Nitanju Bolade Casel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nitanju Bolade Casel
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Clarice Adele Johnson |
| Born | December 6, 1953 Buffalo, New York |
| Genres | Gospel |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1980–present |
Nitanju Bolade Casel, born Clarice Adele Johnson on December 6, 1953, is an American singer. She was born in Buffalo, New York. Since November 17, 1985, she has been a member of Sweet Honey in the Rock. This is an African American group that sings without instruments, known as a cappella.
Casel is famous in Sweet Honey in the Rock for her "fast spoken word" songs. She has written and sung many of these. Some of her well-known songs include "Peace," "The Little Shekere," "Women Should Be A Priority," and "Young And Positive."
Before joining the group, Casel spent four years in Dakar, Senegal. There, she studied performance and how cultural groups work. While in Africa, she helped start an organization called ADEA. This group used art to help people from different African backgrounds share ideas.
Musical Contributions
Nitanju Casel has added many of her own songs to Sweet Honey in the Rock's music collection. She has also created new versions of traditional African songs for the group. Her music has even been featured in a children's textbook called World of Music. It was also part of The Box, a TV show pilot from Robert De Niro's Tribeca Production Company.
Acting and Other Work
Casel appeared in the 1998 movie Beloved. This film starred famous actors like Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. She was also a special guest artist in a show by the Smithsonian Institution. This show was called Duke Ellington's Great Ladies of Song.
Today, Casel is a co-director of First World Productions. This organization focuses on cultural and educational performing arts.
References
- Information about Nitanju Bolade Casel's career and contributions to Sweet Honey in the Rock.
