[1][2] Noted for her coloratura and soprano vocal range, Kanam is considered one of the most influential figures in 21st-century Congolese and African popular music.
[6][10] Barbara Kanam Mutund was born on 27 September 1973 in Bukavu, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), into an upper-middle-class family as one of twelve children.
[21][22] Her father, a Lunda executive, worked as the General Manager of the Sheraton Hotel in Lubumbashi, while her mother hailed from the Bemba ethnic group.
[24] However, due to her father's job loss, the family's financial situation became precarious, making it challenging for Kanam to afford her school fees.
[30] Téti achieved remarkable success in the Burkinabè market, particularly in Ouagadougou, where it received airplay on Radio Télévision du Burkina for five months.
[24] In April 2003, Kanam was nominated during the 3rd edition of Kundé d'Or and subsequently performed at the Palais des Sports de Ouaga 2000 to promote Téti.
[31] Additionally, she graced the stage at the Culture Palace of Abidjan, sharing the platform with Aicha Koné, Tiane, Mawa Traoré, Joelle Séka, Tigress Sidonie, and Chantal Taïba to further support Téti.
[27] It gained immense popularity throughout Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe's African expatriate population, notably in France, earning Kanam two consecutive Black Music Awards for Best Video and Revelation of the Year.
An event was organized by the King Production record label in Abidjan, which involved approximately thirty journalists to broadcast the album's forthcoming release.
[48][44][50] Karibu achieved critical success, with journalists and broadcasters such as Claudy Siar and Yves Robert Brazza Kambala declaring it as one of the year's best releases.
[56] The song features singers Tiken Jah Fakoly, Amadou & Mariam, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré, Kandia Kouyaté, Mory Kanté, Sia Tolno, and rappers Didier Awadi, Marcus, and Mokobé Traoré.
[60] While working on Zawadi, Kanam also served as a jury member in the Jeunes Talents music contest and later toured Paris to negotiate distribution deals for the album's forthcoming release.
[65] Zawadi also won her the Jury Special Award at the 11th edition of the Canal d'Or, held at the Palais des Congrès de Yaoundé in the presence of the Cameroonian First Lady, Chantal Biya.
[70][71] To support "Mela Mayi", Kanam held an exclusive concert at SHOWBUZZ in Kinshasa on 15 December 2017 and received a nomination for Best Female Artist of Central Africa at the African Music Industry Awards.
[72][73] In March 2018, Kanam premiered the single "Lisanga Ya Ba Mbanda", a Congolese rumba-inspired cover of M'bilia Bel's hit from the 1980s.
[75] Her love ballad "Atcha", a fusion of Congolese rumba sung in Swahili, Lingala, and French, was released on 9 October 2020 and received widespread acclaim in Kinshasa.
[76][77] To commemorate the release, she hosted a VIP event at Village Chez Ntemba, located at 10 Avenue Du Port, Gombe, Kinshasa that same evening.
[87] On 5 April 2023, she released the spiritually-themed song "Uzima" (Swahili for "life"), expressing gratitude to God,[83][88] and on 25 May, she collaborated on Félix Wazekwa's "Jalousie XL" from his double album Article 23.
[94] On 8 July 2023, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, issued an ordinance appointing Kanam as the Director General (DG) of the Cultural Promotion Fund (FPC).
alongside Innoss'B, Fally Ipupa, Papa Wemba, Tshala Muana, Simaro Lutumba, Félix Wazekwa, Bill Clinton Kalonji, Marie Misamu, Meje 30 (also known as MJ30), King Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide, JB Mpiana, Werrason, Manda Chante, Fiston Mbuyi, Verby All Stars, Leperc, and M'bilia Bel.
[94] The next year, she took part in the "Africa Stop Ebola" project, joining forces with Tiken Jah Fakoly, Amadou & Mariam, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré, Kandia Kouyaté, Mory Kanté, Sia Tolno, and rappers Didier Awadi, Marcus, and Mokobé Traoré, to raise awareness and combat the Ebola epidemic.