Soul Video: Melissa Nkonda "Nouveaux Horizons"

Written By: MIM!—Melissa Nkonda’s debut album, Noveaux Horizons, is an homage to her Algerian and Cameroonian roots as heard through the genres of pop, soul, jazz, latin, and African rhythms. Although she primarily sings in French, Melissa infuses bits of English on singles such as Nouveaux Horizons, I Dance Alone, J’ai Fait Tout Ca Pour Vous (with British singer VV Brown), and Africa, there is something good for the soul for everyone on Melissa's album. Watch the video for the single, Nouveaux Horizons, below.

MELISSA NKONDA "Nouveaux Horizons" from Sebastien Caudron on Vimeo.

(Photo Credits: © Album Cover Art)

Ghana, Botswana, South Africa, Tunisia And Egypt Among Top 100 Countries In The World

Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Newsweek conducted a study evaluating economy, politics, health, and quality of life, to determine the world's best 100 countries. Eighteen African countries made the cut.

Here are the African countries that ranked in the top 100, as well as their relative rankings (for purposes of comparison, Finland ranked as number 1, while Canada ranked as number 7, the US number 11, and the UK number 14):

65. Tunisia

67. Morocco

74. Egypt

80. Botswana

82. South Africa

85. Algeria

86. Ghana

87. Kenya

90. Madagascar

91. Senegal

93. Tanzania

94. Ethiopia

95. Mozambique

96. Uganda

97. Zambia

98. Cameroon

99. Nigeria

100. Burkina Faso

Explore the world's best countries by visiting www.Newsweek.com.

(Photo Credits: © Dreamstime / Milosluz)

Waxing Electro Lyrical: Keeya

Written By: MIM!—Much like her diverse background, Parisian raised singer/ songwriter Keeya (who was born to an Algerian mother and a Cameroonian father) has a musical taste that is exceptionally diverse. It is no surprise then that today, she is trying to break out a musical career for herself performing a unique variation of synth laden electro pop music. She says: "My Mom was addicted to music. At home we would listen to soul, funk, reggae, r&b, hip hop, rock, pop, and Arabian music ... and she’s a fan of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson, Sade, En Vogue, but also Madonna, The Rolling Stones, The Doors ... Every time I had the opportunity to grab the mic, I would jump on stage and do my thing... People named me the jukebox." When she was a teenager, she discovered gospel, and the harmonies she was exposed to led her to perform with gospel/soul choirs. Compelled to follow her musical heart, Keeya quit high school to focus exclusively on music (it didn't hurt that she could also work on musical gigs on the side and book jobs as a model to pay the bills).

Today, the young artist is ready to step into the spotlight to see if the world is as diverse and open minded as her sound. She certainly thinks the answer is yes, noting "musical sensitivity has no limits..." To hear Keeya's music, visit www.myspace.com/keeyamusik.

She Defines Soul.Substance.Style (No. 003): Soha

[ click image for larger version ]

Written By: MIM!—Like all gifted musicians, French/Algerian singer, Soha assimilates a diverse range of musical traditions from around the world, reflecting the rich multi-cultural environment she grew up in. Her parents are Sahrawi from the Western Sahara and members of the Ouled Soltane tribe (children of the Sultan). This background left Soha with a nomadic spirit, craving for freedom and independence and are reflected in her French sung songs that are delicately suffused with the traditional Algerian songs of her mother, who Soha owes her love of music. Soha is truly a vocalist of the times, knowing no boundaries other than the limits of her imagination. Discover this woman who defines Soul.Substance.Style at soha.fr.

(Photo Credits: JM Lubrano)