For years, Nneka has tirelessly toured the globe, connecting with Africans, Europeans, and Americans alike. Her live performances have garnered incredible acclaim, giving listeners an intense and intimate glimpse into the heart and soul of this so-called “Afro-German warrior princess.” Her music is indeed a fearless assault on the social issues of crime, war, and poverty, a charge that has become stronger in numbers following every one of her performances. She has earned the praises and respect of contemporaries such as The Roots, Lenny Kravitz, Erykah Badu, Damian Marley, and Femi Kuti, having performed alongside each of them at major international music festivals. Joined by the iconic Ziggy Marley, and writer/producer Frank Fitzpatrick, Nneka brings her deep soul and inspiration to the 2011 Beat the World soundtrack with “Express Yourself.”
Spring 2012 saw the release of Soul is Heavy, the critically acclaimed follow up to her debut album. Its title track was co-written by and features one of modern hip-hop’s masters, Talib Kweli. Nneka describes the album as dealing with “issues that have to do with the day-to-day life of people: corruption, false prophecies, religion, and war conflict.” These are, of course, the issues that continue to afflict Nneka’s native Africa. The album serves as both a solemn reminder of the yearning and tumult on the other side of the world, but also as a call to action and an anthem of hope and pride in tradition. Her brand of political soul and R&B seeks to educate a modern audience on the bravery of African activists such as Ken Saro-Wiwa and Isaac Adaka Boro, offering them as models for an African uprising to reclaim their culture from tyranny. No matter the tempo of her songs, there is always a defining beat of urgency at the core of Nneka’s music. Her voice is a wake-up call for the citizens of every nation: that we must stand tall, express ourselves, and work together if we hope to build a future of peace, justice and equality.
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