A profile of the world's most streamed female French-speaking singer.
Within just a few years, musical phenomenon Aya Nakamura has become an international artist. A French Beyoncé.
On the other side of the world, her ‘Djadja’ got Rihanna, Madonna and Brazilian footballer Neymar dancing. Visiting Paris, Alicia Keys invited her to join her on stage for a duet of the song. The New York Times named her one of the 15 European artists to watch and Forbes magazine recognised her as one of the 20 most influential Europeans under 30. She was the cover star of the special edition highlighting ‘Forbes’ 40 Women of 2021’, and since her performance at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Aya Nakamura has become something of an icon.
Born Aya Coco Danioko, Aya Nakamura - who calls herself both urban and African - is not the only young woman with a strong personality to sing about her life and emotions.
So why her and not someone else? How does one become Aya Nakamura? What makes her different? What is the Aya Nakamura phenomenon all about?