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Aya Nakamura (born Aya Danioko in Bamako, Mali in 1995) is a multi-platinum, chart-topping French-Malian pop singer mixing urban and Afrobeat sounds, mostly known for the #1 hit single and global smash "Djadja" (2018).
Coming from a family of griots (West African storytellers, praise singers / poets of oral tradition), she was the oldest of five siblings in her family. Immigrating to France with her family, she resided in Paris northern suburbs. She later launched into music taking the name Nakamura, after the character Hiro Nakamura of the NBC Heroes science fiction drama series.
In 2017, her debut album Journal Intime entered the France charts at #6 and was certified GOLD, propelled by her first Platinum hit "Comportement".
In Spring 2018 she released new single "Djadja", first extract from her sophomore album due Fall 2018 This instant smash became #1 in the French charts in 4 Weeks only, topped the charts for 2 weeks and was quickly certified Diamond in France, before conquering charts all over Europe (Netherlands -#1 for 4 weeks - Germany, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece…) "Djadja" has garnered over +470 Million Youtube views and 320+ Million audio streams to date.
On Nov 2, 2018, the new “queen of streaming” released sophomore album NAKAMURA, boasting 7 tracks out of 10 in the TOP 10 single that week. And became the first female artist to achieve this. Album quickly went double Platinum and prompted her second #1 single, "Copines" (+200 Million YT views, +140M audio streams to date). She topped all 2018 France year-end records becoming the most streamed female artist for 2018 (*source SNEP) and achieving #1 Youtube video that year in France.
In 2019 she won the European Music Moves Talent Award (Best Urban album) and was Nominee for Song of the Year & Best urban Album at France Music Awards (Feb 2019). This recognition heralded her first sold out headline tour starting March 2019, including an Olympia Paris Hall sold out show in less than 2 hours, followed by a Zenith/ arena tour in the Fall 2019.
In June 2019, she earned her first nomination at BET Awards 2019 as Best International Act, and crossed the 1 Billion YouTube channel views. In August her YouTube channel becomes the most viewed ever for a French female artist (1.3 Billion views to date)
In the summer of 2019 she rules yet again with her new smash "Pookie" (+200 Million streams and +160 Million YouTube views to date), including high-profile international versions with multi-platinum rapstars Capo Plaza (#1 Spotify Italy) and Lil Pump (US).
In September 2019, "Djadja" rise back again at #25 in Shazam worldwide charts, and Top 10 in Shazam Spain and all Latin America, while "Pookie" enters Shazam worldwide charts at #80 She thus locks 2 tracks in Shazam Global 100 simultaneously. The album Nakamura goes Triple Platinum in France. In October, "Djadja" goes Platinum in Spain and Portugal while "Pookie" goes 2x Platinum in Italy, a rarity for an artist singing in French.
On October 25,2019, Aya Nakamura release a new version of Nakamura with five brand new tracks including a new Top5, Platinum hit named "40%".
On Nov 12, 2019, Madonna posted an Instagram story with her dancers vibing to "Djadja". At the end of November she embarks on her first 18-date national Zenith tour (7,000+ capacities - SOLD OUT).
In December, she officially tops 2019 France year-end charts on both Youtube and Spotify, as the most watched and streamed French female artist this year.Her album goes 4x Platinum in France with the new year, and has now generated +1 BILLION audio streams to date in the world.
On Jan 2, 2020, she is announced to perform at Coachella Festival 2020 (Sat 11 & 18 April), for her first international festival appearance.