Bella Bellow: Beloved Songbird of Togo

Available for over a year

Togo's best loved musician, Bella Bellow, had a voice comparable to African American Ella Fitzgerald. Her talent was discovered when she was at school, and at 21 she was invited to perform at the Festival of Black Arts (Festival Mondial des Arts Nègres, 1966) in Dakar – an event of great cultural significance which made her a household name across West Africa, where she went on tour. She was poised to become an international superstar when she was tragically killed in a car accident at the age of 27. Though she died at the tender age of 27 in 1973, she continues to influence the country, as well as musicians such as Angelique Kidjo, today. Presented by BBC Afrique's music expert Ata Ahli Ahelba, who grew up listening to Bellow's music in his homeland, Togo. Image: Street art depicting Bella Bellow, Credit: BBC