Danda Kidi: Nella’s Ode to African Womanhood

Music has always been more than entertainment in Africa, it’s a vessel for memory, resistance, and celebration. Nella understands this instinctively. Born in Cameroon and shaped by the diaspora, she’s weaving the threads of her journey into a new kind of Afro-fusion tapestry. Her latest single, “Danda Kidi,” is a joyful tribute to African women everywhere, blending ancestral percussion with contemporary soul.

With a career that quietly blossomed over the past year and over 1.3 million streams across previous singles like “C’est Dieu Qui Donne”, “JeJe”, and “Star”, Nella has steadily built a following of over 250,000 fans. But it’s with Danda Kidi that she seems poised for her most significant breakthrough yet.

Speaking to Nella feels like sitting down with an old friend, one who’s gracefully carried stories across oceans and time zones. When asked about the inspiration behind Danda Kidi, she’s quick to explain the depth behind the title. “Danda Kidi is really personal for me, it means ‘slowly but surely‘,” she says, her voice carrying a warmth that makes even a phone line feel like a porch conversation at sunset. “It reflects everything I’ve been through. I was born in Yaoundé, raised partly in Douala, then moved to the U.S. as a teen. I’ve always felt like I was walking between two worlds, trying to find my rhythm. This song came from a place of owning that dual identity and celebrating the slow, steady grind it takes to become who you’re meant to be.” And it shows. From the first beat of Danda Kidi, listeners are pulled into a soundscape where bend-skin percussions meet Afrobeat grooves and a soulful Hip-Hop bassline. There’s a heartbeat in the track that feels ancient yet entirely new, ancestral drum patterns layered beneath call-and-response chants and rich harmonies.

More than a catchy anthem, Danda Kidi carries a message. It’s Nella’s ode to African women, past, present, and future. “We carry so much: culture, legacy, strength, and beauty. Danda Kidi is about owning your pace and your power,” she says. “We don’t need to rush to prove ourselves. The world moves fast, but there’s strength in growing deeply, not just quickly. I hope this song reminds women that they’re worthy, rooted, and unstoppable, in their own rhythm.” It’s a sentiment woven through every lyric and melody, and one that resonates beyond borders. Whether on a Cameroonian courtyard, a Brooklyn rooftop, or a Lagos lounge, Danda Kidi calls on women to move in sync with their spirit, not the world’s timeline.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Nella’s artistry is her unapologetic embrace of her Cameroonian roots. While many artists shy away from traditional sounds in the quest for mainstream appeal, Nella moves in the opposite direction. “It’s everything to me. My music is where my roots and my present collide,” she shares. “I grew up dancing to Bikutsi, Makossa, Bend Skin, and listening to Hip Hop and R&B, all of that lives in my sound. Blending those traditional rhythms with Afro-fusion isn’t just a choice; it’s how I tell my story.” And tell it she does, with boldness and elegance. Through English, French, Pidgin, and Fèfè, Nella’s lyrics mirror her lived experience: diasporic yet grounded, modern yet deeply nostalgic.

Nella’s sound, while uniquely hers, is an echo of the voices she grew up with. She credits artists like Charlotte Dipanda, Angélique Kidjo, and Brenda Fassie for showing her what it meant to sing from the soul, while names like Lauryn Hill and Beyoncé shaped her understanding of vulnerability and versatility in music. “That mix taught me that you can be soulful, rhythmic, powerful, and still rooted. It made me unafraid to blend genres and speak from the heart.”

In a time where Afro-fusion continues its meteoric rise, Nella views herself as a bridge, connecting the past with the future, and communities across the diaspora. “Afro-fusion gives us space to evolve while honoring where we come from,” she explains. “As someone who’s lived between Cameroon and the U.S., I use my voice to tell stories that merge both worlds. Whether it’s through language, visuals, or sound, I want people to feel like they’re being taken on a journey.”

Creating Danda Kidi was as personal as it was technical. Written during a period of self-doubt and reflection, the track became an affirmation of resilience. “I wrote the first draft when I was questioning everything — my pace, my path, my place in the industry. The lyrics poured out as affirmations. Then I worked with Giggz, this amazing producer who just got it. We pulled in Cameroonian percussion, layered harmonies, added melodies that felt both nostalgic and fresh. Every part of the process felt spiritual.”

While Danda Kidi marks a pivotal moment in her career, Nella isn’t slowing down. She hints at an upcoming EP that promises to dive even deeper into her story. “More visuals, performances, and collaborations are coming. I want to take this sound to stages across the world, Cameroon, the U.S., Europe.. and by God’s grace, slowly but surely, it will all unfold.” Beyond music, she’s exploring directing her own content, fashion collaborations with African designers, and creating mental health initiatives for immigrant women.

Nella’s approach is refreshing. She moves with intention, weaving culture, story, and soul into every note. Danda Kidi isn’t just a song, it’s a movement, a heartbeat, and a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the most powerful journeys are the ones that unfold slowly, in your own rhythm.