Jandira Sassingui Neto, known professionally as Pérola, and born on April 28, 1983, in Huambo, Angola, is a singer-songwriter. She began singing at the age of eight and later moved to Namibia with her family before settling in South Africa in 2002. In 2004, she won a newcomer award from Rádio Luanda and her breakthrough came in 2005 when she was crowned Best Female Artist in Southern Africa at a fashion show. She released her debut album Meus Sentimentos in 2004, which included hits like "Angola" and "Já não". Her second album, Cara e Coroa, released in 2009, featured 13 tracks spanning contemporary R&B, soul, zouk, and kilapanga. In December 2010, she was named Diva do Ano (Diva of the Year) in Luanda.