Sally Nyolo

• Genre: Afro-Pop

About

Best known for her work with Zap Mama, Sally Nyolo has forged her own direction as a solo artist since the late '90s. Born in Cameroon, Nyolo immigrated to Paris when she was just 13 years old and found work as a backup singer before landing the gig with Zap Mama. She recorded Sabsylma and two live albums with the group, releasing her solo debut, Tribu, in 1996. In her solo work, Nyolo often returns to her roots: she explored bikutsi, a traditional rhythm from central Cameroon, on both 2000's Beti and 2002's Zaione. In 2006 she returned to Cameroon and set up an informal recording studio in the capital, where she recorded numerous local acts and released a compilation, 2007's Studio Cameroon.

- Sarah Bardeen