Offiong Bassey is a singer/songwriter and poet who draws from many influences in her life. She is the first generation of her Nigerian-American family to be born in America. The American soul, jazz, gospel, and music traditions are as familiar to her as those of West Africa. They benefit from her unmatched ability to produce music that is innovative, inspiring, and fun, as well as her unique ear and phrasing. Her talents have been praised by a variety of audiences, from South African youth in Johannesburg to attendees at the U.S. Africa Business Summit, Washington D.C., to Jazz lovers at the world-famous Scullers Jazz Club, and RegattaBar venues in Boston. She was honored to perform in the Obong (King), of Calabar, Nigeria, and the Governor, Cross River State, Nigeria. She has been featured on WCVB’s CityLine and NPR Radio Boston, with live in-studio concerts. The Boston Globe has also profiled her twice. Offiong’s distinctive sound has been influenced by many people. Offiong’s grandmother, Offiong’s namesake, sang traditional songs from the Efik tribe. She gave Offiong the power and richness of her cultural heritage, storytelling tradition, and her name. Other great artists like Angelique Kidjo and Fela Kuti inspired her, as did Jonathan Butler and Lauryn Hill. Offiong saw the meaning of her name “God’s moon” as a call to reflect her creator’s light through song and story. Offiong Bassey’s debut album “Offiong Bassey”, which was released on Moonlit Media Group, is a nuanced and complex collection of songs that truly reflect her artist identity. It includes Afro-Peruvian rhythms as well as funk, Ru0026B, and funk.
