Soul Ladies: Commuting between Africa and Europe

Three globally known musicians address music, migration and integration. Three-time Grammy winter Angelique Kidjo was born in Benin; Y'akoto has her roots in Ghana but grew up in Hamburg; and Nneka is German-Nigerian. 

Kidjo has lived on several continents. She studied in France and now lives in New York. When she was a young singer, she had to flee Africa. She went on to become a legend in France and a star in the music business. "Soul Ladies” lends and ear to the kind of music you make if you’ve grown up in Ghana, Benin or Nigeria and go on to spend years in Europe.

The documentary examines how biography influences the creative process. Music critics frequently compare Y’akoto, who is Ghanaian-German, with soul and blues greats. Yet coming to Hamburg at twelve was a shock. There, she faced racism and discrimination daily.

Nneka left Nigeria at eighteen and ended up in a German orphanage. Her story is like a fairy tale, though the road to her own musical style was rough. Her repertoire ranges from hip-hop, to soul, to African music and reggae and reflects inclusion. They all may have come to fame in Europe, but they also return to Africa again and again. Soul Ladies follows the singers as they shuttle between two worlds.

 

 

 

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

THU 24.12.2020 - 11:15 UTC
THU 24.12.2020 - 17:15 UTC
FRI 25.12.2020 - 13:15 UTC
FRI, 25.12.2020 - 22:15 UTC 

Cape Town UTC +2 | Delhi UTC +5,5 | Hong Kong UTC +8
Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3 
San Francisco UTC -8 | Edmonton UTC -7 | New York UTC -5
London UTC +0 | Berlin UTC +1 | Moscow UTC +3