If you’re a frequent social media user, you’ve probably heard the song Venom at some point. The track was trendy, catchy, and empowering, with lyrics about mental health and female empowerment. It was once dubbed “the feminist, mental health anthem.” And the artist behind the song? Little Simz.
Who’s that?
She’s a British-Nigerian musician who has once described her style of music as rap and experimental. Born and raised in London, Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, popularly known by her stage name as Little Simz, was a shy kid growing up. Even now, she considers herself an introvert, which she has said made her feel weird because most people in the industry were expected to be extroverted.
Little Simz discovered her voice when she performed at St. Mary’s Youth Club in Islington. She then went on to star in several TV roles like Spirit Warriors, which was aired on CBBC, and Youngers. Even then, she didn’t lose her spirit for making music. While still acting, she made music and uploaded them to SoundCloud and Bandcamp.
Through her own label named Age 101 Music, she then went on to self-release four mixtapes, five EPs and an album named “A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons,” which was released as a “concept album” based on experimental beats. In her intro to Persons, she made the declaration “Women can be kings.”
The music
Little Simz sings about feminine pride, societal issues, mental health, and anything else she deems inspiring. To her fans, she is magical, inspiring social media trends and urging women to reclaim their feminine prowess.
It is a source of pride to see Africans recognized on a global scale. Each African who accomplishes something great carries a torch of recognition for the entire continent.
This woman is definitely changing the face of music.