"We have yet to awaken
our full creative force
as Africans"
- Iyadede
I first wrote about New York-based singer Sabrina Iyadede when I included her in a piece about "Rwandan Musicians You Should Know".
I began with ‘out of monumental pain and darkness can arise true, exquisite beauty and light’, and it is true that her life story is a testament to the healing power of music, and she remains a musician with great promise, but we felt the need to spend extra time getting to know Iyadede because there’s more to her than that. Her whole life is devoted to creativity — besides being a musician she’s a model, jewellery designer and illustrator — and her unique look and sound are a result of adapting to, and thriving in, the places she calls home. Furthermore, being one of the afropolitans gaining increasing visibility abroad we wanted we wanted to know what role she believes art can play in altering perceptions of Africa.
The release of her new collaboration with Theophilus London (video and mp3 download below) provided the perfect opportunity, and we chatted about life, music, fashion, Africa and the arts, and what else she’s been working on since the release of her last mixtape, The Demo.
TIA: We recently wrote about you in a piece about Rwandan musicians worth keeping an eye on. And while you are very much Rwandan, you’ve also lived and grown up all over the world. You’re a global child of Africa, really. Given this, what is your concept of ‘home’?
Iyadede: My idea of home changes and evolves as I discover more of the world. I think when you've had your roots cut off early and you've been displaced, it forces you to learn to adapt and I’m very good at that. You can put me anywhere I will find my way to a comfortable place. I have very deep ties to Rwanda but I also enjoy getting lost abroad and just being a stranger.
TIA: You've cited the fact that your mother was a Radio DJ as a pretty big musical influence in your early years. Who or what else would you cite as your major creative influences?Iyadede: My mom collected music…she had to because she loved sharing new stuff with her audience. We played everything from Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Marvin Gaye, and Whitney Houston, to Abba, Vaya Con Dios, La Compagnie Creole, Boney M, Anita Ward, the Bee Gees, Peter Tosh, and Bob Marley, to Cecile Kayirebwa, Kamariza, Jean Christophe Matata, and Gregorian Chants. Then, as I was growing up, I went through a rock phase where I listened to a lot of Metallica, Skunk Anansie, the Cranberries, Green Day, AND a lot of French variety music.
To me, it is not about a particular era or genre of music, but about music being a soundtrack to one’s life. My influences are about what I take from that musical journey: the lyrics, the message in the music, the way it soothes our existence and the way it helps anchor memories vividly in our mind…forever.
TIA: It's like you say at the end of Little Brown Girl [last track on The Demo], “music is the way for you to map out your existence.” Love that.
Iyadede: Exactly. Can you imagine your life now without music? Impossible!
TIA: Impossible. A lot of artists have some aspect of their creative process they cannot do without. What would you say is a key part of your creative process?
Iyadede: Good question. I don’t really have a ritual. I just try to be honest with myself. Creating is a sort of…channeling. I think it’s about being as open as possible and accepting yourself wholly, the good and the ugly. The creative process is the art of soothing yourself.
TIA: You’re a vocalist, model, and jewellery designer. Tell us about your line Bowbi-Ladawa. What does the name mean?Iyadede: I consider myself a singer first. I also do illustrations and, yes, some jewellery. Bowbi-Ladawa is inspired by the ex-Congolese President’s Mobutu’s second wife, Bobi Ladawa. Congolese people have a way with clothes and style. They are unapologetically exuberant and Bowbi-Ladawa tries to capture that: big, bright and colorful.
TIA: You have a very unique personal style that is hard to compare to anyone else is or to categorise. How would you describe your style? And are you at all interested in pursuing fashion as part of your creative career?
Iyadede: I try to be comfortable and find nice cuts for my shape. I feel comfortable in my skin and love the challenge of creating a simple, casual, elegant African aesthetic through my clothes and music. I love fashion and I love design in general so I will definitely venture into design in the future. For now, I do have fabulous friends doing their thing in the fashion world, like Anisa Mpungwe (Tanzania) of Loincloth and Ashes who sends me superb dresses.
TIA: How do you feel about the power of the arts to create change, particularly in Africa? Any cause in particular that you’re interested in raising awareness about or in participating in?
Iyadede: Art can definitely help change perceptions of Africa abroad. It is a very effective cultural ambassador to other nations and has the power to open the minds and hearts of people to the humanity of Africans. I also strongly believe in art as a mean for us to express the things that often drive us to act out using violence or other negative or destructive forms of expression. With all the negative images of Africa that are out there, art is one way to illustrate the beauty and creativity of Africa and Africans. I think it’s also important to truly value our creativity as Africans. It is amazing the amount of ancient masks, statues, and art pieces you find here [in New York] in markets that are bought in Africa for pennies and sold to collectors. We have yet to awaken our full creative power and force as Africans and to value and encourage our artists by considering ‘artist’ as the true profession and calling that it is.
TIA: You performed recently at the Lincoln Center with Spoek Mathambo and Blitz the Ambassador for ‘Live from the Continent’ in New York. Do you think mainstream audiences are more open to African artists and African music (of all genres) than they were when you first started in the business?
Iyadede: When I heard that Beyoncé had incorporated African influences in her single I thought "what a wonderful idea!" We [Africans] don't get enough credit for our contributions to global culture, but we are a source of inspiration to the art world, from contemporary dance to paintings. Look at Picasso and tell me you don't see how he was influenced by African art. That mega stars like Beyoncé are now using African rhythms and dance to bring an awareness of "Africa" to an audience that may not otherwise develop an interest for our culture isn’t a bad thing. I appreciate it.
TIA: I thought it was cool that Beyoncé was influenced by Fela! The Musical, which she co-produced, and that Kanye West has signed Nigerian artist D’Banj to GOOD Music. Barriers are definitely being crossed. Are there any African artists in particular you'd love to collaborate with?
Iyadede: I am going to shamelessly include everyone on this list because, according to science, we are all Africans! Artists I want to collaborate with: Kenna, my dear Ismael Lo, K'naan, the super-charged Kanye West, the swagged-out Frank Ocean, one of the greatest French hip-hop collectives, Saïan Supa Crew (if they ever regroup), the queen Bjork, the black star Fally Ipupa, Mr. Akon, the amazing producer Salaam Remi, that bad b**** from Sri Lanka M.I.A, my girl crush Rihanna, the high priestess Erykah Badu, Santigold, Shad, and Shabazz Palaces. And that’s an incomplete list (laughs).
TIA: The Demo was released last year and there is so much growth between the music on this mixtape and the music you had previously released. Can you tell us what you’re currently working on?
Iyadede: I am definitely working on music, but it is at an early stage. I have no idea what the future holds for me, but I am really happy that I do have an audience that is looking out for my music. And I am definitely working. I have a video coming out for my single Not the Same from The Demo, and I have just finished a song I love, Les anges en danger featuring the super-fly Theophilus London, that I will be promoting and performing.
TIA: All right! We’ll stay tuned. And we can’t wait to debut the video here on TIA.
Website: That Girl From Africa