Acting
Aya Nakamura
Aya Danioko, widely recognized by her stage name Aya Nakamura, was born on May 10, 1995, in Bamako, Mali. She comes from a lineage of griots, traditional West African storytellers and musicians. At a young age, her family moved to France, where she grew up in Aulnay-sous-Bois as the eldest of five siblings.
Nakamura's musical journey began when she shared her first single, "Karma," on Facebook at just 19. This was followed by the breakup anthem "J'ai mal," which caught the attention of listeners and showcased her talent. Her longtime friend, Dembo Camara, took on the roles of producer and manager, guiding her career. The release of her debut album, *Journal intime*, in 2017 marked a significant milestone, but it was her sophomore album, *Nakamura*, released in 2018, that solidified her status as a pop sensation, achieving Diamond certification in France with over 1.2 million copies sold globally. Notable hits from this album, including "Djadja" and "Copines," propelled her to international fame, breaking records and earning her accolades like the Victoires de la Musique award for her 2020 album, *Aya*, which achieved double platinum status in 2023.
In early 2023, Nakamura was named Lancôme's international beauty muse. Beyond her music career, she is also a devoted mother of two daughters and has actively supported charitable causes, including the ALIYAH association. In recent years, she has faced personal challenges, including a highly publicized domestic violence case, yet she continues to thrive as one of the most prominent figures in French pop music today.
