Vocalist, composer and writer Somi is a child of immigrants from Uganda and Rwanda, and grew up in the US and Zambia. Once she reached adulthood, she lived in Laos, Nigeria, for a spell, where she found inspiration for the album The Lagos Music Salon. The album, which also featured Angélique Kidjo and Common, signified her breakthrough. These days, Somi lives mainly in New York. During the pandemic, she recorded the live album Holy Room with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, which earned her a Grammy nomination in 2021. Somi is a versatile talent; a virtuoso singer with a voice like honey, who is inspired by both African and American traditions, but is also a critical writer and academic. Last year she released the album Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba. She also wrote and starred in the musical Dreaming Zenzile about the legendary South African singer and activist.
