Les Nubians is a French musical duo, composed of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart from
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, France. In 1985, the sisters moved with their parents to
Chad
Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
.
Seven years later, they returned to
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
, France, and began singing a cappella, producing poetry slams in Bordeaux and Paris, and singing background vocals for various artists worldwide. The duo's debut album ''
Princesses Nubiennes'' was released by
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
, France, in 1998.
They have become one of the most successful
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
-language musical groups in the U.S., best known for their Billboard R&B Single "Makeda" from their Grammy nominated album ''Princesses Nubiennes''.
Les Nubians were the 1999
Soul Train
''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series w ...
Lady of Soul Awards winners for Best New Artist, Group or Duo and received two
NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E.&nb ...
Image Awards nominations in 2000.
[
In May 2020, the sisters were featured in the ]Visual Collaborative
Visual Collaborative is an American festival and publishing platform highlighting the intersections of people, commerce, and innovation. Acclaim for its social impact in humanities, it was featured by VOA, for advancing the cause of humanities and ...
Polaris catalog. In a series titled ''TwentyEightyFour'' released during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, their interview announced a music single LIBERATION. Rika Muranaka Rika Muranaka is a Japanese composer and music producer renowned for her songs in Konami’s ''Metal Gear'' video game series.
Some of her most notable works include "The Best Is Yet to Come" (''Metal Gear Solid''), "Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday" ...
, Dakore Akande
Dakore Egbuson-Akande (born Dakore Omobola Egbuson; 14 October 1978) is a Nigerian actress. She is an ambassador for Amnesty International, Amstel Malta and Oxfam of America.
Biography
Dakore was born in Bayelsa State as the first child of her ...
appeared in the same periodical. The duo executive-produced ''Echos, Chapter One'' in 2005 on their label Nubiatik; a joint venture with Triloka Records. The project features artists from France, and the U.S. performing poetry and music from the urban edge. ''Echos, Chapter One: Nubian Voyager'' was released in 2006 as a book accompaniment to the CD.
Discography
Albums
*'' Princesses Nubiennes'' (1998) Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
*''One Step Forward'' (2003) Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...
, Higher Octave
Higher Octave Music is a sub-label imprint of Narada Productions. Since 2013, it is part of Universal Music Group's Capitol Music Group, which is located in Los Angeles.
History
Higher Octave was acquired by Virgin Records on behalf of EMI in 199 ...
*''Echos, Chapter One'' (2005) Nubiatik
* ''Nü Revolution'' (2011) Nubiatik, Shanachie
Soundtracks
*''Beat the World
''Beat the World'' (also known as ''You Got Served: Beat the World'') is a 2011 Canadian dance film written and directed by Robert Adetuyi. It is a loose sequel to the American film ''You Got Served'' (2004). It was produced by InnerCity Films and ...
'' (2011)
Duets
* ''Sueña'' (Sonrisa, 2010) feat Ana Torroja
Guest appearances
* " Funkin' for Jamaica" (Towa Tei
is a Japanese artist, record producer, and DJ. Born in Yokohama, Japan, Towa debuted as a member of Deee-Lite, from the US label Elektra Records in 1990 and shot to fame via their international hit single, "Groove Is In the Heart". He made his s ...
featuring Joanne, Les Nubians, Wisdom Life & Tom Browne), from the album ''Last Century Modern
''Last Century Modern'' is the third studio album by Japanese music producer Towa Tei, released on July 28, 1999 by East West Records. It peaked at number 20 on the Oricon Albums Chart. The album was released in the United States on May 23, 2000 ...
'' (1999)
* "On My Own" (Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas (also known as The Black Eyed Peas) is an American musical group consisting of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo (rapper), Taboo. The group's line-up during the height of their popularity in the 2000s featured Fergie (singer ...
featuring Les Nubians and Mos Def
Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...
) from the album, '' Bridging the Gap'' (2000)
* "Who's There?" (Guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...
) from the album, " Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul" (2000)
* "Love Language" (Reflection Eternal
Reflection Eternal is an American hip hop duo composed of emcee Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek. They released their first album, ''Train of Thought'', in 2000. They have since released a mixtape, ''The RE: Union'', in late December 2009, and t ...
) from the album, "Train of Thought (Reflection Eternal album)
''Train of Thought'' is the debut album of American hip hop duo Reflection Eternal, released October 17, 2000 on Rawkus Records. Collaborating as a duo, rapper Talib Kweli and DJ and hip hop producer Hi-Tek recorded the album during 1999 to 20 ...
" (2002)
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nubians, Les
Musical groups from Paris
French people of Cameroonian descent
Neo soul singers
Black French musicians
French girl groups
Virgin Records artists
21st-century French women singers
20th-century French women singers
French soul musical groups
Female musical duos
French musical duos
Sibling musical duos