Black singers on the French music scene

Afroculture.net presents black and mixed-race singers of the French music scene.

• Inna Modja

photo credit : Inna Modja

• Date of birth : May 19, 1984
• Hit song : French Cancan( Mr Sainte Nitouche)
• Other songs : C’est la vie, Tombouctou, La Fille du Lido, I Am Smiling
• Label : Warner Music France

Inna Modja, real name is Inna Bocoum, is a singer, actress and model of Malian nationality. She had a huge success in France with her song French Canca, which was the hit of summer 2011 with its pop and soul sounds.

• Shy’m

photo credit : Shy’m

• Date of birth: November 28, 1985
• Hit song : Femme de couleur
• Other songs : Victoire, Oublie-moi, Reflets, La première fois, Si tu savais
• Label : Warner Music France

Shy’m, real name Tamara Marthe, is a French R’n’b singer and dancer. She was spotted by the Quebec rapper K-maro, who decided to help her in her career. She made a name for herself on the French scene with her hit song Femme de couleur. After winning season 2 of Danse avec les stars on the French channel TF1, she became a jury member for the show.

• Aya nakamura

photo credit :  aya nakamura

• Date of birth: 10 May 1995
• Hit songs : Djadja
• Other songs : Pookie, Copines, Comportement, Jolie nana
• Label : Warner Music France

Aya Nakamura, whose real name is Aya Danioka, was born in 1995 in Mali. She is a successful French singer who was discovered on social networks. She grew up in Aulnay-sous-Bois in the Paris region. She is the eldest of a sibling of 5 children. In August 2017, she released her debut album Journal intime, which was a great success. 24 years old, she became famous thanks to her worldwide hit “Djadja” whose video clip has accumulated more than 380 million views on Youtube since its release in April 2018. She continues with hit singles such as Pookie, Copines, Jolie nana.

• Imany

photo credit : Imany

• Date of birth: April 5, 1979
• Hit songs : You Will Never Know
• Other songs : Don’t Be So Shy, Try Again, Please and Change
• Albums : Acoustic Sessions, The Shape of a Broken Heart

Imany, whose real name is Nadia Mladjao, is a French singer and model from the Comoros Islands. After giving up her modeling career in New York, she now devotes herself fully to music. On her return to France, she was discovered by producer Malik Ndiaye, who helped her launch her career. With her albums Acoustic Sessions and The Shape of a Broken Heart, she was soon to have success in France. She became an ambassador for the ENDOmind association, raising public awareness about endometriosis.

 

• Awa Imani

Photo credit : Awa Imani

• Date of birth: February 28, 1987 in Paris, France.
• Hit song : Chocolat feat Lartiste
• Other songs:  Joli garçon, Aime-moi, C’est le sang, Tout pour lui

Awa Imani is a French singer of Guinean and Senegalese origin. She has collaborated with many artists such as Yannick Noah, Kery James, Corneille, Disiz la Peste, Amel Bent, etc.. She has a huge success with the song Chocolat featuring Lartiste.

• Lynnsha

Photo credit : Lynnsha

• Date of birth: January 4, 1979
• Hit songs : Je veux que tu me mentes, Ma rivale, Lova Girl, Ne m’en veux pas

Lynnsha, whose real name is Sophie Lynnsha Jordier Martély, is a French R’n’b singer of Martinique origin. She is noticed by Lord Kossity, who offers her a featuring on the song Lova girl. Her participation in the album “Dis l’heure de zouk, du rapper et producteur” will increase her fame. She went on to perform duets with Afro-Caribbean singers. In 2008, the song “Je veux que tu me mentes” from the album “Elle et moi” was a big hit. In 2020, she launched the album Tandem.

• Louisy Joseph 

Photo credit : Louisy Joseph

• Date of birth: April 14, 1978
• Band on Popstars: L5
• Hit Songs : Toutes les femmes de ta vie (L5), Assis par terre, Mes insomnies

Louisy Joseh, whose real name is Lydy Louisy-Joseph, is a French singer of Martinican origin. She participated in the music show Popstars on M6. Thanks to this, she became known in 2001 as a member of the group L5. Soon, the song “Toutes les femmes de ta vie” from the group was a huge success. She continued her solo career. After a period of inactivity, Pascal Obispo produced his first album La Saison des Amours on Warner Music France. His single “Assis par terre” (Sitting on the Floor) reached number 3 in the French charts. In 2014, she takes part in the fifth season of Danse avec les stars..

• Fanny J

Photo credit : Fanny J

• Date of birth: 6 October 1987 in Cayenne, French Guiana.
• Hit songs : Ancrée à ton port
• Other songs: Je t’aime encore, Dis le moi, Toi et Moi

Fanny J, whose real name is Fanny Jacques-André-Coquin, is a French zouk singer from French Guiana. She began her musical career by participating in various local music competitions in French Guiana such as Podium and Podium Révélation Inter-de lycées. Her meeting with the musician Warren, an author-composer and producer will change her life and help her to make herself known. Warren is going to write him the hit song “Ancrée à ton port” (Anchored to your port). In 2007, she is revealed by the single “Ancrée à ton port” in duet with Mokobé.

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