Margareth Menezes

Born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil on October 13, 1962, Margareth Menezes is an axé, Afrobeat, and samba reggae pop singer and songwriter. She is best known for the hits “Me Abraça e Me Beija” (1988), “Elegibô (Uma Historia De Ifa)” (1990), and “Dandalunda” (2003). Now considered one of the most popular internationally recognized Brazilian artists of the twentieth century, her recording career began in 1988 with the release of her self-titled debut album. Following the release of her second album, Um Canto Pra Subir (1989), Margareth Menezes’ “Elegibô (Uma Historia De Ifa)” was used on the soundtrack of the 1990 motion picture Wild Orchid. The success of the soundtrack inspired the US to release the compilation album Elegibô, which contained songs taken from her first two Brazilian albums. The compilation reached Number 1 on the Billboard World Music chart and proved to be a hit in several countries around the world. Further albums include Kindala (1991), Luz Dourada (1993), and the acclaimed Maga: Afropopbrasileiro (2001), which featured the hit “Dandalunda”. She has continued to release critically acclaimed albums and has found time to collaborate with several artists including Trabalistas, Ivete Sangalo, and Timblada. Margareth Menezes’ 2010 release Naturalmente Acústico — an acoustic version of her album Naturalmente (2008) — featured guest appearances from Gilberto Gil, Carlinhos Brown and Luis Represas. Her 2015 album Para Gil & Caetano was a tribute to influential songwriters Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.