Charlotte Dipanda

Charlotte Dipanda's graceful, often acoustic songs combine melodic Afro-pop, vocal jazz, and singer/songwriter traditions. She delivers some of her music in the French or Douala languages in addition to her native Bakaka, another regional language of Cameroon. After spending several years as a backing vocalist and featured singer, she released her first solo album, Mispa, in 2009. Dipanda made her major-label debut with her fourth long-player, 2018's Un Jour dans Ma Vie (Universal). Born in Yaoundé and raised by family members in Yaoundé, Douala, and Mbouda, Charlotte Dipanda turned to music as a distraction from school as a young teen. She eventually took part in open-mike nights at a club in the Yaoundé where she met singer Lokua Kanza. That led to her singing on guitarist Jeannot Hens' album Ndando when she was still in her mid-teens. Leaving Cameroon for France, she reached out to Kanza, who helped her find work there as a backing vocalist. An acoustic set recorded with Guy Nsangue, Dipanda's solo debut, Mispa, appeared on Cano Productions/Rue Stendhal in 2009. It included a tribute to Hens. She returned in 2012 with Dube I Am, which was recorded with zouk icon Jacob Desvarieux and bassist Richard Bona (Pat Metheny Group). Her third album, Massa, followed the Pharempire label in 2015. A year later, Dipanda made her debut as a judge on TV singing competition The Voice Afrique Francophone. Dipanda then signed with Universal, which released her fourth studio album, 2018's Un Jour dans Ma Vie, before reissuing her back catalog. The year 2018 also saw the release of "Sista," a collaboration with pop singer/rapper Yemi Alade. Dipanda took home the award for Female Voice of the Year at that December's Balafon Music Awards. Still based in Paris, she returned in 2020 with "Quand Tu N'es Pas Là." ~ Marcy Donelson