Mbilia Bel

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Records

Mbilia Bel's career is marked by a series of firsts and achievements that set her apart in African music. She was one of the first female artists to achieve mainstream success in the male-dominated world of Congolese rumba. Her album Yalowa won the Best Female Singer award from ACMCO, and her 2003 Kora Award for Best Central Africa Female recognized her continental impact. She has been a trailblazer for women in African music, inspiring generations with her powerful voice and elegant style.

AwardsMbilia Bel has won several major awards in African music. She received the Best Song award for "Eswi Yo Wapi" and was named Best New Artist early in her career. Her album Yalowa earned her the Best Female Singer award from ACMCO in 1996, and Welcome brought another ACMCO honor in 2001. In December 2003, she won Best Central Africa Female at the Kora Awards, one of Africa's most prestigious music honors.

Records & Feats

One of the first female superstars of Congolese rumba

Career Milestone·1982

Mbilia Bel broke barriers in a male-dominated genre, achieving widespread fame in the 1980s and paving the way for future female artists.