Female representation in the Afrobeats scene is growing. Some may say the rate of involvement is slow, but it’s growing nonetheless, and that can only be a good thing when you consider the level of talent they possess and the refreshing perspective they bring into the music industry. There are a number of young women on the come up, but for more reasons than one, you should be paying close attention to Africaine.
Born Chinanu Onuoha, and simply known by those close to her as Chi, Africaine has a musical background that spans deep and draws from a variety of experiences. She had a taste of American and Nigerian culture growing up, having been born in Connecticut, USA and spent her summers in Owerri, Imo State. Her Christian upbringing also inspired her early involvement in the local church choir, where she learnt a lot about music – the art of vocal mastery, the skill of playing musical instruments, and the knowledge of musical structure. She also had a spell working as a backup singer for a gospel artiste, and the quality of music she has put out so far is evidence of how much she learnt from her experiences and how well she adds that sprinkle of “Americanness” into her very Nigerian songs.
Depth of experience means little in the absence of natural talent, but Africaine is certainly not lacking in that department. Her most recent release is a two-pack single which consists of the original and acoustic iterations of her track “One Chance”. Her performance shows brilliance in simplicity and displays the natural strength in her voice box. The acoustic performance delivery is a goosebumps-provoking experience for the listener, while the original is an absolute bop. The strength in her lyricism shines through as she paints a picture of a romantic relationship gone wrong. The singing and songwriting magnificence displayed on “One Chance” is nothing new, as those privileged to know the artiste from her earlier releases will testify. “Love for Free”, “Bloodclaat” and “Jaiye” all establish a clear pattern that can only be seen in the talented.
Another thing going for her is her focused, tunnel vision as regards her purpose and the type of music she wants to create. Even from her stage name – which translates from French to English as “African Woman” – her intent to be a voice that empowers African women is clear. Through collaboration with other female artistes, she aims to debunk the narrative that females do not support each other. Through her lyrics and career, she wants to inspire her female listeners to believe they can achieve whatever they set their minds to. All bold claims, but if there’s anything she has on her side, it’s time. Time to reach her lofty goals, time to improve on her immense skillset, time to become a superstar.