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Barbara Kanam (born January 1, 1970 in Lubumbashi, katanga ) is a globally recognized and award winning Congolese singer-songwriter, as well as a music producer and actress. She is hailed as setting the new standard for female African musicians, having one of the most beautiful female voices in contemporary popular urban African music. She is one of twelve children, and was formerly engaged to musician Awilo Longomba.

Kanam began singing and writing music for an orchestra band called Devotion. She perfected her vocal technique at the prestigious Psalmondy Acamedy in Johannesbury, South Africa, while taking guitar lessons on the side. In 1994, after thirteen months of taking lessons, Kanam mastered the instrument and went on to create a musical arrangement for her first tour, the "Acoustic One Woman Show", touring throughout Central Africa.

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In 1995, fate lead Kanam to settle in Abidjan, Ivory Coast where she experimented musically by joining a religious choir. She then joined a church ensemble called the Grace Choir in Cocody, Ivory Coast, where Kanam became a regular singer. Later, in 1997, Kanam decided to continue her studies in International Trade.

The following year, along with producer Kone Dodo, she released her first album Mokili which pushed her into popularity among contemporary African Music genre seekers. As a result, the singer earned her first Kora Award nomination.

On June 25, 2009, Kanam released her third album under her own music label, Kanam Music, entitled Karibu which means welcome in Swahili. The album, featuring producer Kiki Toure', received rave reviews. Journalists and broadcasters like Claudy Siar and Yves Robert Brazza Kambala declared the album one of the best releases in 2009, and Barbara Kanam as the new "standard-bearer" for female African musicians!

On August 6, 2009, at the Sebroko Hotel in the Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Kanam visited the United Nations headquarters there and received a token of recognition. Afterward, she delivered a sincere message of peace over the United Nations radio broadcast airways in Ivory Coast.

Source: BarbaraKanam