Afia Mala

Real name Afiwavi Mawulana Catherine Missohou, Togolese singer Afia Mala was born into a polygamous family of 24 children. She grew up to the sound of traditional music, and although her father predicted a career as a lawyer, it was singing that drew her to follow in the footsteps of her mother Mélanie Lissassi-Missohou, a prominent member of the traditional music group Habobo. At first an admiring spectator of her mother's talent, the young Afia soon immersed herself in the world of music. By middle school, she was writing and singing her first songs, and performing at school parties where she was regularly compared to one of the icons of Togolese music, Bella Bellow. Her first album, Djalele , was released in 1979, opening the door to international success. She then moved to Paris to record her successor, Lonlon Vevie , which further consolidated her burgeoning reputation. Three years later, she was acclaimed by Radio France Internationale (RFI) listeners for her song "Ten Hompte", which won her the Prix 1984 des auditeurs RFI. Starting with the album Es La Manana in 1987, Afia Mala became her own producer. Numerous other albums followed, from Désir in 1989 to Identité in 2019, including Prophétie in 1995, Angelina in 1997, Plaisir in 2003, and Afia à Cuba in 2008 with the Orquesta Aragon, the prestigious Cuban musical group founded in 1939.