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Safia Aminami Issoufou Oumarou (born 15 April 1982), known professionally as Safiath, is a Nigerien singer, rapper, and songwriter.
Safiath | |
|---|---|
 Safiath pictured circa 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Safia Aminami Issoufou Oumarou |
| Born | 15 April 1982 Khartoum, Sudan |
| Genres | Rap |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, rapper, songwriter |
Early life and career beginnings
editSafiath was born in Khartoum,[1] and is ethnically Tuareg and kanuri;[2] to a Sudanese mother and a Nigerien father.[3] She went to Morocco to study economics and banking. In Rabat, she joined a group that performed salsa, in which she played guitar; she then returned to Niger, where she found it easier to gain work as a musician than using her degrees.[4]
Career
editSafiath is the lead singer of the rap group Kaidan Gaskiya, but has sung a variety of other genres as well.[5] She has represented Niger in numerous international musical competitions,[5] including the 2013 Jeux de la Francophonie in Nice.[1] Outside of Niger, Safiath has also collaborated with artists from other African nations during her performing career.[6]
Musical style
editMany of Safiath's songs, which are performed in languages such as French, Hausa, Zarma and Tamasheq,[4] deal with social issues, similar to those of Zara Moussa; children's rights in particular are a popular theme in her work,[7][5] and she has spoken of a desire to raise consciousness in a younger generation with her songs.[3]
She has articulated a desire for Nigeriens to engage more deeply with indigenous music, expressing concern over the increasing influence of foreign elements, particularly from French and American music, on the quality of Nigerien rap.[3]
Personal life
editAs of 2013, Safiath is married to the rapper Phéno, with whom she has a child.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "7ème Jeux de la Francophonie à Nice (France) : Le Niger sera représenté en chant par Safiath". www.lesahel.org. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Amman Imman - Dining for Women". diningforwomen.org. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ a b c "Safiath, une artiste engagée". jeunesseduniger.blogspot.com. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Safiath: Tazedar". abagond.wordpress.com. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ a b c "More Than We Know: Discovering Nigerien Culture Through Art". wellsbringhope.org. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Zim in regional collaborations - NewsDay Zimbabwe". Newsday.co.zw. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Four Nigerien Women Musicians You Should Know". Africa Is a Country. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
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