A respected and influential Angolan singer/songwriter whose career began in the late 1990s, Yuri Da Cunha has remained a consistent chart presence in his home country with large international followings in South Africa, Europe, and other parts of the world. His passionate musical style is deeply influenced by regional Angolan dance rhythms like Semba, Kuduro, and Kazukuta, and his energetic stage shows have resulted in him being nicknamed "The Show Man." Among Da Cunha's best-known works are 2009's Kuma Kwa Kié, the 2013 hit single "Atchu Tchutcha," and his fifth album, 2015's O Intérprete. Growing up in Luanda, Da Cunha was drawn to music at a young age, watching his father play guitar in various bands. Teaching himself to sing, he earned some local notoriety by winning first prize in a street contest. A couple of years later while in Lisbon, he made his official recorded debut with 1996's É Tudo Amor under the guidance of Portuguese producer Valentim de Carvalho. While the album did well in Portugal, Da Cunha waited another six years before attempting a follow-up. This period of seasoning served him well, as 2005's Eu introduced a more mature and varied sound rooted in a number of Angolan dance rhythms and bearing his own unique stamp. The breakout album also yielded hits like "Homem é bom," "Kalundu," and "Njila" and earned Da Cunha several awards, effectively turning him into a star. His success continued with 2009's Kuma Kwa Kié, which featured collaborations with artists like Carlitos Chiemba, Lito Graça, and Heavy C. Riding the momentum of his two previous releases, Da Cunha soon found himself on the global stage, touring the world in 2010 as the opening act for Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti. For his next project, Da Cunha honored the music of Angolan legend Artur Nunes, independently releasing a 2012 tribute album called Canta Artur Nunes. Though he was already an established star, it was his 2013 hit single "Atchu Tchutcha" that helped him reach an even broader audience, earning him an MTV Africa Award in the process. O Intérprete, Da Cunha's fifth album, appeared in 2015, producing yet another hit in the vibrant "De Alma Na Paixão." Over the next few years, he focused on singles, collaborating with Flavour on 2017's "Sweet La Vida" and Agir on 2018's "N'Gakuzolu." ~ Timothy Monger