Nakaaya Sumari

Born in Tanzania and raised in Kenya, Nakaaya represents the dynamic spirit of the modern African woman. The compelling passion of her voice conveys the pain, pride and internal struggles between the two that so many deal with. Always a performer, Nakaaya has been in love with music since her early days singing in school choirs.

Her break came in 2006 as a cast member on East Africa’s hit reality TV series, Project fame. While she didn’t win the contest, she was a fan favorite winning the hearts of her viewers through her passion and dramatic flair.

She recorded her debut album in Dar es salaam with regional super producer Ambrose Akwabi ‘dunga’ of Mandugu digital. Nakaaya spent nearly a year crafting her album, an intensely personal and voyeueristic record. Her animated and melodic voice are intoxicating.

The album, Nervous conditions (2008) is a poetic journey during which Nakaaya lays her heart bare for the listeners, intelligent and brooding, sad yet uplifting, the album is rich in emotion. Nakaaya has proven herself a songwriter and compelling voice from Africa and made history by being the first ever East African artist to sign a deal with the second largest record company in the world. The company’s roster includes internationally acclaimed artists such as Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Celine Dion, Sean Kingston and more.

An activist by nature, she received an mdg3 torch, representing the youth for gender equality and women empowerment from the Danish government in 2008. Recently a mother (2013), she is the epitome of a modern African woman.
Her music is Afro Soul, perfectly blending western harmonies and African melodies through ballads, dance tracks and soulful tracks reminiscent of Angelique Kidjo, Asa or Khadija Nin.