Akua Naru

Akua Olatunji, better known as Akua Naru, is an American rapper from New Haven, Connecticut. Blurring the lines between hip-hop, soul, and jazz, her music often tackles issues of race and gender inequality through a powerful poetic voice and skilful storytelling. Raised in a religious household, Olatunji began writing rhymes from early childhood. After completing her studies at Rutgers University, she relocated first to China and then to Cologne, Germany, where she made her debut back in 2011 with the EP Poetry: How Does It Feel?. That same year, she also released her first studio album, The Journey Aflame, which was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews throughout the world, becoming a college radio hit in the US and receiving heavy airplay in countries like Germany and France. A North American 22-date tour ensued and so did a live album under the name The Live & Aflame Sessions in 2012. In the following years, Olatunji returned with the critically-acclaimed The Miner’s Canary (2015) and dropped the self-produced The Blackest Joy in 2018, an album heavily informed by African music and inspired by black women’s empowerment.