Every day until December 24, we’re stuffing your stockings with a new Eurovision poll and asking you to name the most Christmassy Eurovision song and Finland’s best entry in past ten years, among other things. Consider this our advent calendar for 2015. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you can let us know your thoughts each and every day by sounding off in our comments section.
Day 23: Eurovision artists of African descent
Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. It’s America’s biggest celebration honouring African heritage within African-American culture. Even though the celebration hasn’t reached Europe yet, we at wiwibloggs want to acknowledge the contributions that artists of African descent have made at Eurovision over the years.
Below we’ve listed the best entries from singers of African descent. This time we aren’t asking you to vote, so just enjoy the music! However, if you want to let us know which song you love most, feel free to sound off in the comments box.
Norway 2011: Stella Mwangi
Kenyan-born Stella Mwangi moved to Norway at the age of five and her entry “Haba Haba” was the first Eurovision song to include some lines in Swahili. Despite being one of the pre-contest favourites in 2011, Norway failed to qualify for the final. But the publicity surrounding her bid helped raise awareness about Norwegian hip-hop and the country’s vibrant immigrant communities.
Portugal 1967: Eduardo Nascimento
https://youtu.be/40S6jSbAKcs
Eduardo Nascimento was the first black male to sing at Eurovision, just a year after the first black female singer Milly Scott sang for the Netherlands. Eduardo was born in Angola, when it was still a Portuguese territory. Eduardo placed 12th with his entry “O vento mudou”.
Morocco 1980: Samira Bensaïd
In 1980 Morocco became the only African country ever to compete in the contest when Samira Bensaïd sang for the country. She delivered the first song performed in Arabic. Morocco finished second to last and hasn’t competed since.
Portugal 1995: Tó Cruz
https://youtu.be/bYbgaqJ2qgc
Tó Cruz — a Portuguese singer of Cape Verdean descent — sang for Portugal at the 40th Eurovision Song Contest. His song “Baunilha e chocolate” was all about interracial relationships. He didn’t impress the juries and placed only 21st.
Latvia 2015: Aminata
Aminata Savadogo served some Burkina Faso realness at Eurovision 2015. Aminata was born in Latvia, but her father is from the West African nation of Burkina Faso. Aminata earned Latvia its best result in years when she placed sixth.
Estonia 2001: Dave Benton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iW5zTxHGE8
Born in Aruba, Afro-Caribbean singer Dave Benton moved to the Netherlands in the 1980s where he met his Estonian wife Maris. The two relocated to Estonia in 1997. Dave went on to win Eurovision 2001 along with Tanel Padar and boyband 2XL. Given his backstory, their song “Everybody” is, in some ways, an anthem of inclusivity.
France 2010: Jessy Matador
Jessy Kimbangi — better known as Jessy Matador — was born in Zaire, which is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His entry “Allez Ola Olé” finished 12th in the contest and charted all over the Europe with its catchy, African-inspired rhythms.
Armenia 2015: Vahe Tilbian (as part of Genealogy)
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Armenia formed a supergroup for Eurovision 2015. Every continent was represented by the group’s members. Ethiopian born Vahe Tilbian was chosen from Africa. Armenia qualified to the final and finished 16th.
Sweden 2012: Loreen
Eurovision 2012 winner Loreen is the daughter of Moroccan Berber immigrant parents. She brought even more African flavour to the performance with her dancer Ausben Jordan, who has African American and Native American roots. Loreen won the contest in a landslide with 372 points.
France 1977: Marie Myriam
https://youtu.be/yq3prvZf7UQ
Eurovision 1977 winner Marie Myriam was born in the Congo when it was still a Belgian colony. Marie is a very international lady and also has Portuguese blood. She won the contest for France singing “L’oiseau et l’enfant”.
Malta JESC 2015: Destiny Chukunyere
Destiny Chukunyere won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 just last month. Her father is former Nigerian footballer Ndubisi Chukunyere, who we spoke with during the contest. Destiny placed first with both the jury and televoters, earning an impressive 185 points.
Mélanie René (Switzerland 2015) is of Mauritian descent, and Maimuna (Belarus 2015) is Malian on her father’s side
Ronnie, his name is Nedjim Matallah, also on twitter @NedjimM 😉
Aminata gives me goosebums, the best of all of them! Haba Haba sucked, sounded like it was from the “Madagascar” soundtrack, really childish and stupid. No surprise it didn’t qualify.
Norway not qualifying in 2011 still annoys me especially since it was because of the juries
fikri, because he has origins in armenia…
The back up dancer for Jesse Matador…the one that took off his shirt…yea him was one of the highlights that year and my person crush. Does anyone know his name? 🙂
i’m still bitter with haba haba not qualifying in eurovision 2011 final. 🙁
armenia 2015, i’m like, if you’re from ethiopia why are you white??
Agree with Mario = Legend about #BurkinaFasoRealness !!!!!! 😉 LOL
Haba Haba is my favourite Eurovision song of all time
Burkina Faso realness 🙂 🙂 haha.
I hope there is more music influenced like this in future contests.
If you are involving thises from the Caribbean then what about Jade Ewen and Andy Abraham?
Maurice
Gaitana (Ukraine 2012) is born in Ukraine
Where is France 1991,Amina was born in Africa country Tunisia.
Dave Benton shoul be on this article, because he is born in Aruba ,Aruba is not in Africa.
Avi Toledano (Israel 1982) was born and raised in Morocco from which he immigrated to Israel by himself when he was a teen.
Also Nadav Guedj’s parents are from Algeria, Liora’s parents are from Libya and Shiri Maimon’s came to Israel from Tunisia and Morocco.
Where is Afrika paprika?
Weird article. Surely by linking african culture to kwanzaa you either mean only west african or just sub-saharan, also black… not sure Loreen, Samira Said, Marie Myriam and Vahe should be on this list.
Where are Amina “France 1991” and Joelle “France 1990”? Each nailed her performance live and should have won the contest.
It’s unbelievable that France 1990 and 1991 aren’t on this list ! Arguably the two greatest back to back examples of aritsts and songs of African origin Eurovision has ever seen. Especially over some of the ones included. More than a little bit ridiculous.
Where is the poll?
I know it’s no voting, but I don’t see why. Do you Loreen win hands down or something.
Where’s the poll?
I’m not sure Aruba is considered African? Isn’t that Caribbean?
Anyway, there is only one: Loreen. Nothing tops that! Although I must say Amina from 1991 is a close second. Why isn’t she on the list? That was a great song too, and I think in many ways she’s better than our own winner Carola.
Estamos hablando de actos de ESC.No de etnias…?
Where’s Gaitana? 🙁
Joelle Ursull ! White and black blues!, quedo tercera ella es de Guadalupe.Si hablamos del color de la piel…está es la cancion gran homenaje a la cultura Africana, maravillosa canción, maravilosa puesta en escena, me gusta TODO , VIVA LA FRANCE.
And tomorrow, it is Scandinavian christmas, merry christmas, or as we say in Sweden: God Jul