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Outlook: The Beninese singer hustling for success in New York

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Shirazee emerges on to the street from Grand Street Station, Manhattan

19/01/2021 GMT

The Beninese singer hustling for success in New York

BBC World Service - Outlook, The Beninese singer hustling for success in New York

Shirazee endured homelessness and a threat of deportation as he pursued his music dreams

Shirazee is a Beninese musician who endured homelessness and a threat of deportation while pursuing his dreams in the USA.

Shirazee is a Beninese musician who's had to hustle hard for success. Born Paolo Prudencio, he experienced a violent robbery, a freak casino win, and a stint of homelessness, before establishing himself as a musician in New York. Now he's got a music deal, and he's even collaborating with the British musician Sting.  Shirazee spoke to Outlook's Emily Webb.

Opetaia Foa'i grew up on the Pacific island of Samoa surrounded by its rhythms, sounds and songs. But surviving wasn't easy and his family moved to the city of Auckland in New Zealand. As he grew up in this new environment he began to look into his roots and started to make music about his voyager ancestors. It caught the eye of Disney, who wanted him to co-write the music for their upcoming movie Moana, about a Pacific Island teenager trying to save her community.  

Any comments please email us on outlook@bbc.com


Photo: Shirazee
Credit: Emmanuel Agbeble

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