Zeynab Habib
{{Short description|Beninese singer of world music (born 1975)}}
{{expand French|date=May 2024|topic=bio}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Zeynab Habib
| image = Zeynab Habib à la fête de la musique 2021 à Cotonou au Bénin 05.jpg
| caption =
| native_name = Oloukèmi
| native_name_lang = Yoruba
| birth_date = September 25, 1975
| birth_place = Abidjan, Ivory Coast
| citizenship = Benin
| occupation = Singer
| known_for = Music
| awards = Kora Award
}}
Zeynab Habib (born Oloukèmi Zeynab Abibou; September 25, 1975) is a Beninese Yoruba singer of world music born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. She won the Kora Awards in 2005 in the Category Best Female Artist in West Africa and has been UNICEF's National Goodwill Ambassador since 2007.{{Cite news|url=http://africultures.com/personnes/?no=19391|title=Personnes {{!}} Africultures|work=Africultures|access-date=2017-11-23|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite news|url=https://lanouvelletribune.info/archives/benin/culture/26052-zeynab-l-elegance-sans-extravagance|title=Zeynab, l'élégance sans extravagance|last=Ribouis|first=Olivier|work=La Nouvelle Tribune|access-date=2017-11-30|language=fr-FR}}
Biography
Zeynab Habib's father was an electronics engineer and her mother was a trader. She is the eighth child to her parents and was raised in a large Muslim family, with more than 16 other siblings.
Growing up, Zeynab engaged herself in music related school competitions. She later enrolled at the General Education College of Allada in 1993. Although she completed the series A at her senior secondary school, she dropped out to pursue a career in music. She then started to make local stage appearances including hosting a karaoke bar at Alex's Hotel in Cotonou, Benin, for more than a year.
Zeynab has received international recognition for her music, including from UNICEF. As of October 2015, she was the national ambassador for UNICEF in Benin.
During a music recital in 2005, she caught the attention of the Super Quartz orchestra, who later recruited her to sing for them. This opened up opportunity for her to meet and partner with notable musicians of that time, including Fifi Rafiatou, Awilo Longomba, Jacky Rapon, Jimi Hope, Nel Oliver (Fespam, Congo), Back Médio, KiriKanta and Madou Isbat.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapressedujour.net/archives/46918|title=Marché des Arts du Spectacle Africain (Masa) 2016 : Zeynab honore le Bénin en Côte-d'Ivoire {{!}} La Presse du Jour|website=www.lapressedujour.net|access-date=2017-11-23}}{{Cite news|url=http://globalworld.skyrock.com/3265372562-Zeynab-Habib-BIOGRAPHIE-ET-VIE-D-ARTISTE.html|title=Zeynab Habib: BIOGRAPHIE ET VIE D'ARTISTE|last=globalworld|date=2015-11-22|work=Skyrock|access-date=2017-11-23|language=fr}}
References
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Category:Beninese women singers
Category:Ivorian emigrants to Benin
Category:Yoruba women musicians