Innoss'B

Congolese Afro-beat singer, rapper, and songwriter Innoss'b first captured widespread attention in 2010 by claiming victory in the debut edition of the Vodacom Superstars competition, an achievement that earned him a joint recording with R&B icon Akon. Only twelve at the time, he spent the ensuing decade forging a recording career that yielded three solo projects, featured partnerships with Congolese stalwarts Werrason and Koffi Olomide, and produced popular tracks including “Yo Pe” and “Mon Boulot.”

Innocent Didace Balume entered the world on May 5, 1997, in Goma, where his parents fostered an early passion for music. He performed regularly in the church choir, absorbed the catalog of idol Michael Jackson at home, and mastered the djembe. At age seven he formed Maisha Soul with his older brothers; the ensemble secured first place at a talent showcase during the Goma Tourism Fair. When American-Senegalese R&B performer Akon organized a nationwide search modeled on American Idol, Balume’s family entered him. The twelve-year-old emerged as the public’s choice, capturing the sole Vodacom Superstars title and the opportunity to record “Up and Away” with Akon; the pair also shared the stage at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. A Ndule Special Jury Award arrived the next year, and in 2013 he inked a deal with Interglobe Music that launched his debut album, Innocent, under the name Innoss'b.

Cha Cha and Turn on the Radio appeared in 2016. By decade’s end he had scored multiple successes, chief among them the 2019 release “Yo Pe,” while collaborating with both established African figures such as Werrason and Koffi Olomide and current stars like Diamond Platnumz. His fourth album, Achour, reached audiences in 2020.