Nneka Egbuna

Nneka Egbuna Biography / Profile

Nneka Egbuna was born on December 24th, 1980 in Warri, Nigeria to a Nigerian Father and a German Mother. She is the youngest of four.

Nneka Egbuna Age

Nneka Egbuna is 43 years old.

Nneka Egbuna Early Life

Her mother left when she was only two years old and her father re-married but the new wife was the proverbial wicked step mother, doing everything possible to make life unbearable for Nneka and her siblings. In 2000, she left Nigeria for Hamburg her mother's home city. After graduating from high school, Nneka studied Ethnology, Anthropology and African studies while making music on the side.

Nneka Egbuna Career

Her career started officially when she met DJ Farhot who is a German-Afghansitan and she insists that Farhot brought Hip Hop into her life as she had never actually seen herself becoming a musician, music had found her. She got signed to Sony Records in 2000

In 2004, she was the opening act for dancehall reggae star, Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark going on from there to release her debut EP, 'The Uncomfortable Truth'.

In 2005, she released her first album, 'Victim of Truth' which was widely celebrated earning her the sucessor of Lauryn Hill title by the British Newpaper, The Sunday Times.

In February 2008, she released her second album, 'No Longer at Ease'. and in 2009, she was chosen as one of Beyond Race Magazine's '50 Emerging Artists', resulting in a spot in the publication's #11 issue. She appeared on BET 106 and Park Music Matters in March 2012 on which she performed with one of Nigeria's best Afro classical acoustic guitarist Clef nite, The front man and rapper for the popular hip hop band The Roots and in 2015, she released 'My Fairy Tales' in which she decries the activities of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram.

She is involved in a lot of humanitarian projects. She co-founded the 'Rope' foundation in a bid to encourage youths to express themselves through music and fashion rather than turning to violence

Since coming into the music industry, she has five albums, two EPs, two compilations, 11 singles and one soundtrack under her belt and she has performed at festivals such as Chiemsee Reggae Summer, Haarlem (Beyrijdingspop), Den Haag (Park Pop) and Saint-Brieuc 9Art Rock Festival), as as well as in respected venues like La Maroquinerie and New Morning in paris, Trivoli in Utrecht, Paradiso in Armsterdam and Cargo and ULU in London. Her single 'Kangpe' is featured as a soundtrack on EA Sports video game, FIFA 10 and she recorded a song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa called 'Viva Africa' which is a tribute to the premier mundial on African soil.

Her lyrics reflect much of her history and life in Nigeria as well as her time spent in Western Europe, they stress the issues of capitalism, poverty and war and are often loaded with moral and biblical messages and references, with some music commentators comparing her to Erykah Badu and Neneh Cherry

She is one of the Judges on Nigerian Idol and apart from singing, is an actress and has appeared in movies like 'Relentless' which was co-produced and directed by Andy Amadi Okoroafor.

She has been nominated for several awards including-

2010 Indigenous Artist of the Year and Best/Neo-Soul Act of the Year for the 5th annual Nigerian Entertainment Awards

Nneka Egbuna Personal Life

She was arrested during one of her concerts, Niger Delta Peace Concert in Portharcout by the State Security Service for performing 'VIP - Vagabonds in Power' which was a song about the Niger Delta Oppression.

Nneka Egbuna Awards

Best African Act at the 2009 MOBO Awards.
Reggae category of the Museke Online Africa Music Award 2010 with her hit song, "Africans".
Best indigenous artist in Nigeria at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) 2010,
NEA award for best international artist several times