Nathalie Makoma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nathalie Makoma
Background information
Birth name	Nathalie Makoma
Born	(1982-02-24) February 24, 1982 (age 43)
Origin	Kinshasa, Zaire
Genres	Afropop, R&B, Pop, Rumba Congolaise
Occupation(s)	Singer, Songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, Piano, Guitar, Drum
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Sony BMG (2007 - 2011), NM HOUSE MUSIC (2014)
Associated acts	Makoma, Papa Wemba, Werrason

Nathalie Makoma was born on February 24, 1982. She is a talented singer and songwriter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who also has Dutch roots. Nathalie became well-known as the lead singer of the music group Makoma. Later, she started her own successful music journey as a solo artist.

Nathalie also appeared on Dutch TV shows. She competed in the fourth season of Idols, a singing competition. She made it to the final round and finished in second place. After Idols, she signed a record deal with Sony BMG. She also took part in the Dutch version of Dancing With the Stars in 2009, where she also came in second.

Nathalie Makoma's Music Journey

Starting with the Makoma Group

Nathalie Makoma began singing with her family's music group in 1993. At first, the group was called "Nouveau Testament." Later, they changed their name to Makoma. The group had seven members: three brothers, three sisters, and one non-family member. They became very popular, singing in Lingala, English, and French.

When Nathalie was 14, she moved back to the Netherlands with her family. She started studying how to perform on stage at the Rockacademie in Tilburg. At the same time, the Makoma band continued to perform and became even more successful. They traveled all over the world. Because the band was so busy, Nathalie had to stop her studies.

In 2002, the Makoma group won the award for Best African Music Group. This was at the Kora South African Music Awards. They became famous worldwide for their gospel music.

Beginning a Solo Career

Nathalie was the main singer for Makoma. She also wanted to start her own music career. In 2002, she released her first solo album called On Faith. This album was re-released in 2003 as GoGospel Edition with some new songs. In 2004, she left Makoma to live in England and then in Ireland. In 2005, she released her second solo album, I Saw the Light.

Nathalie on Reality TV Shows

Performance during Idol in 2008. From left to right: Nathalie Makoma, Charlene Meulenberg, and Nikki Kerkhof.

Idols Competition

In 2007 and 2008, Nathalie returned to the Netherlands. She decided to join season 4 of the Dutch Idols competition. She performed very well and finished as the runner-up. The winner that season was Nikki Kerkhof. The judges on the show called Nathalie the "new Tina Turner." They also said she was "a real dancing queen." During the final show, her family group Makoma even performed with her. They sang "Ola Olé" in English. After Idols, Nathalie signed a music deal with Sony BMG. She then toured the Netherlands, performing in over 150 shows in just one year.

Dancing With the Stars

In 2009, Nathalie joined the Dutch version of Dancing With the Stars. Her dance partner was Peter. They danced their way to the final round. They finished in second place. The winners were former Idols-winner Jamai Loman and his partner Gwyneth van Rijn.

De Mattheus Masterclass

In 2010, Nathalie took part in a TV show called De Mattheus Masterclass. This program featured artists who were not trained in classical music. They learned to perform music by the famous composer Bach. Nathalie performed at the St. Vituskerk church in Hilversum.

Nathalie's Solo Music Today

In December 2008, Nathalie appeared on a TV show called Alles is kerst. On the show, she sang the song "All I Want for Christmas Is You" with singer Brace.

After Idols, Nathalie's main song was "I Won't Forget." This song was even remixed by the famous DJ Paul van Dyk. The song was part of Nathalie's solo album, Dance4Life. She then released another song called "I Just Wanna Dance." This song was a mix of R&B, pop, and dance music.

In 2010, Nathalie left Sony BMG. She became an independent singer, hoping to make music for a worldwide audience. In 2014, she started her own record label called NM HOUSE MUSIC. She released her new song "One More Try" in August 2014. She has continued to release new music, including "Papa G" in 2015, "Omukulu" in 2016, and "Eyi Mabe" and "Dis Moi Simplement" in 2017.

Nathalie Makoma's Music Albums

Albums with Makoma

• 1999: Nzambe na Bomoyi (meaning "Jesus For Life")
• 2000: Makoma
• 2000: Baby Come
• 2002: Mokonzi na Bakonzi (meaning "King of Kings")
• 2005: Na Nzambe Te, Bomoyi Te (also known as "No Jesus, No Life")

Nathalie Makoma Solo Albums

• 2002: On Faith
• 2003: On Faith—GoGospel Edition (This was the same album with extra songs.)
• 2005: I Saw the Light

Albums as Makoma featuring Nathalie Makoma

• My Sweet Lord (2000)

EPs (Extended Plays)

• 2005: I'm Glad I'm Alive (live)

Singles (Individual Songs)

• ¹: "I Won't Forget" reached number 2 on the Dutch Tipparade. This chart is like a preview for the main Top 40.
• ²: "I Just Wanna Dance" reached number 17 on the Dutch Tipparade.

Songs Featuring Nathalie

See also

• Makoma