By PATRICIA AMOGU

Fast-rising Cameroonian-born singer and songwriter, Sonia Djoumessi, says African music has gained prominence and will take over the global stage in the nearest future.

Sonia expressed this view in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

The UK- based singer, who is also a model and Biomedical Scientist, said that her passion for music made her take it as career at a tender age.

She said that her musical career started at age of 10, singing in her school choir to the delight of parents and teachers.

“I learnt how to play local musical instruments such as shakers, hobos, gongs, xylophones, and others as a student.

“My passion for music was fueled while I was in school; the school provided music lessons every Wednesday evening where I earned the basics of music theory and practice as well as the piano and keyboard.

“I started writing songs at the age of 12; and my vocal quality soared when I joined the secondary school choir, gaining more choral experience.

“Although my family had other plans for me to become a medical doctor, what stood out for me was passion for music which for me was in-borne.’’

She said that she became the centre of attraction during her days at the University of Buea, Cameroon.

“This was like a dream come true for me because my love and skills for music was amplified and I had started studio recordings at the time.

“With the help of Pastor Rochie Osvalin, who assisted in enrolling me in a vocal training course at M1 Studio under his supervision, I recorded hit tracks like Dancer, Bami, Reseaux, hit love, among many others.’’

Djoumessi said she balanced her burgeoning music career with her modeling work and made substantial amount of progress in the music and modeling spaces.

“Winning the Miss Summit Productions 2019 in Cameroon and being decorated as the female ambassador of Bright Future Foundation in 2018 were great achievements for me.’’

Djourmessi’s professional music career took off in 2022 following the release of her first Extended Play(EP),” Gradually” produced and mastered by Marc Eff of Kovapot.

The EP featured hit tracks like Make Moves, loving, tell them and gradually.

“The production process of this project was a learning opportunity for her in terms of the music-making process.

“This year, I want to be heard through all nooks and crannies and I will make an impact to see that my music makes an impact on the global map,” she said.

NAN reports that asides being an artist and model, Djoumessi works as a Biomedical Scientist at the Nottingham University Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre, in Nottingham, UK. (NAN)