Bella Bellow

Singer, songwriter, and composer Georgette Nafiatou Adjoavi Bellow, also known as Bella Bellow, was born on January 1, 1945, in Tsévié, Togo. From an early age, her singing talents were recognized in her hometown, where she was often invited to perform at events. Pursuing secretarial studies in Abidjan while also taking music theory lessons, her rise as an artist was rapid. At the age of 20, she was invited to perform at Benin's independence celebration in Cotonou and a year later, in 1966, she participated in the first Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar, where she met her future manager, Gérard Akueson, who encouraged her to collaborate with renowned musicians Slim Pézin on guitar and Manu Dibango on keyboards and arrangements for the recording of her 1968 debut album, Rockya, featuring hits such as "Bléwu," (later covered by Angélique Kidjo), "Zélié," and "Nye Dzi." Bellow captivated audiences with her deep voice, magnifying the traditional music of Togo, bringing these musical stylings to the world stage, performing in Brazil, as well as a popular song festival in the Caribbean, and the Olympia in Paris. On December 10, 1973, Bellow tragically passed away in a car accident, however memory is still revered in Togo, with her face featured on postage stamps and banknotes. In 1977, a posthumous album titled Album souvenir was released, featuring notable tracks like "Lafoulou" and "Denygban."