His work is greatly influenced by American funk and soul music; he is inspired by Prince, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.

His father, Émile Nyungura, was a leader of the political party PSD thought to be opposed to the government and therefore a target; Corneille witnessed the assassination of his parents and his three brothers and sisters when he was 17 years old.

[4] In July 1997, Corneille decided to leave Germany in order to pursue studies in communication, and moved to Montreal, Canada, to attend Concordia University.

During this time, he founded O.N.E., an R&B band, with Pierre Gage and Gardy Martin, whom he had met shortly after arriving in Quebec.

Invited by Dave Stewart, he performed at his first showcase at the Réservoir in Paris, and had the chance to sing with Jimmy Cliff.

[5] Corneille's first album, the Canadian version of Parce qu'on vient de loin, was released on 10 September 2002.

[5] In April 2003, Corneille sang with Craig David, repeating a verse in French in the song Rise and Fall.