Barbara Kanam

Barbara Kanam is an acclaimed Congolese singer-songwriter, producer, and cultural ambassador. Born in Bukavu, DRC, she is celebrated for her powerful soprano vocals and seamless blending of Soukous, Congolese rumba, and gospel. Rising to international fame with her 2003 hit " Bibi Madeleine', she remains a towering figure in 21st-century African music.

She attended university in South Africa, where she honed her vocal technique at the Psalmody Academy and learned to play the guitar. After returning to the Ivory Coast, she was discovered by Alpha Blondy and producer Dodo Koné, releasing her debut album, Mokili, in 1999.

She established her own record label, Kanam Music, in 2008 and has since released globally successful albums, including Teti (2003), Karibu (2009), and Transfiguration (2023).

Kanam is a prominent entrepreneur with her own luxury brand and serves as the Director General of the Cultural Promotion Fund in the DRC.

She won most Promising African Female Artist (2003) at Kora Awards,Named Best Female Artist of Central Africa in (2004)at Kunde d'Or. Won Best Female Hope  Of Central Africa in( 2004) at Tamani d'Or,she won Revelation of the Year and Best Video for "Bibi Madeleine"(2005) at the Black Music Awards .In 2015  she was honored for Best Female Voice and Best  Female  Artist for her album Zawadi at the Ndule & Afroca Awards.