Thinking Outside the Box: Artist Naomi Achu – Dynamic, Role Model
I am born to parents from Bamenda, Cameroon. I am the last of six children. My father is from a tribe called Baforchu and my mother is Awing. I am blessed to have lived in the United Kingdom, Cameroon and currently the USA. Hence I’ve had the opportunity to grow up around people of different cultures, religions and race and this is what makes my music colorful and dynamic.
I’ve been singing since I was in primary school. It all started at home during prayers and devotions where we would gather round my mother’s bed and sing choruses. I wrote my first song at the age of 9 and I can still remember part of it today, although I never actually wrote down the lyrics. While in boarding school, I joined various groups, wrote songs with them, lead and performed with them. Then I started doing back-up vocals at M1 studio in Buea for prolific artists in the country and later on landed a deal with MTN to have my voice as the voice prompter in English for 5 years. Around that time, I traveled to the United States, focused on finishing my studies and towards the completion of my Bachelors degree, I went to the studio to start recording my own songs and work on my own projects.
Being an African female in the industry has been my biggest challenge. My Cameroonian culture and background does not have a strong market for music and neither do they think too highly of it, especially if you are female. The expectation is that an African female should only do the basics; go to school, work, get married, have kids and so on. Some of which I have already done and some that I hope to do in the nearest future. But since I’m exploiting a talent (a gift), which is not often done in my culture, no matter how good my music might be, I have faced criticism for thinking outside the box.
I had to overcome this setback back by stretching my market outside of Cameroon and branching my music into the US, Europe and other parts of Africa. My style of music is very diverse and aims at an international audience. So far, my Nigerian fan-base has been very enthusiastic and instrumental in the growth of my career.
I may be an artist but I also consider myself a role model. I aim to encourage people of my culture to not only get a decent education but to exploit opportunities given to them. There are so many people who are afraid to take a chance for fear of what people around them might say.That is one of the reasons why I gave my album the title “Positive Energy”. Because if you think positive, positive things come your way.
My new album “Positive Energy” is available on iTunes December 2011 as well as my last project, a four track EP entitled “No Boundaries”.
Join me in Atlanta on Dec 17, 2011 at QUEENS for the Album Release of Positive Energy.
PHOTOS
MUSIC VIDEO
CONNECT WITH NAOMI ACHU
www.NaomiAchu.com
www.Facebook.com/NaomiAchu
www.MySpace.com/NaomiAchu
www.Twitter.com/NaomiAchu
