After relocating to Hamburg in 2003, Nneka has been working closely with the hip hop beatmaker DJ Farhot. As a young singer she first gained public attention in 2004 while performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark. After much acclaim, Nneka released her debut EP The Uncomfortable Truth with the music label Yo Mama's Recording Company after which she performed on her first tour with Patrice, playing shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
She finished recording her first album in the autumn of 2005. Entitled Victim of Truth. Garnering rave reviews from the media, the UK's Sunday Times later declared it “the year’s most criminally overlooked album”, comparing it favourably to 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'.
In February 2008, she released her second album, No Longer at Ease. The title of the album is taken from a novel of the same name by Chinua Achebe and reflects the lyrical content of the record. Most of the songs are political, talking about the plight of the Niger Delta and the corruption in Nneka’s homeland. “No Longer at Ease” combines the political and the personal in “a winning mix of soul, hip-hop an reggae”. The lead single from it, "Heartbeat", became her first song to break into the German Top 50.
In November 2009, Nneka staged her first concert tour of the United States where she performed shows in New York City, Vienna (Washington DC), Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Furthermore she was a special guest on The Roots Jam session. Her first US release Concrete Jungle was set for 2 February 2010.
Nneka recorded her last album Soul Is Heavy in Nigeria. She also co-founded a charity foundation called the "ROPE foundation" with Genda, Ahmed Nyei from Sierra Leone. She has worked extensively in charity and arts with the foundation in Sierra Leone. Nneka has also worked with Reebok and her track "Shinning" topped global charts in 2013.
Make Me Strong
Nneka Lyrics
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You make me strong, eh
You make me strong
You make me strong, eh
You make me strong
You make me strong, eh
You make me strong
You make me strong, eh
You make me strong
You make me strong, eh
You make me strong
You make me strong, eh
You make me strong
You make me strong, eh
You make me strong
At first glance, Nneka's "Make Me Strong" seems to be a simple repetition of the same phrase, "You make me strong," over and over again. However, upon closer examination, one can see that the repetitiveness of the lyrics is a clever way of emphasizing the importance of the subject- the person who is being referred to by the pronoun "you." This person is a source of emotional and mental strength for the singer, a constant in her life who provides her with the support she needs to keep going.
The strong beat and repetitive nature of the lyrics also convey a sense of determination and resilience on the part of the singer. She is clearly committed to overcoming whatever challenges come her way, and she believes that the person she is singing about is an integral part of that process. The use of the word "eh" at the end of each line, which is a common linguistic feature in African English, adds an element of authenticity to the song, giving it a distinctly African flavor.
Ultimately, "Make Me Strong" is a tribute to the power of human connection in inspiring people to persevere in the face of adversity. It is a reminder that we all need support and encouragement from others at times, and that sometimes simply knowing that someone believes in us can be enough to give us the strength we need to carry on.
Line by Line Meaning
You make me strong
The presence and support of the person being sung to gives the singer the emotional and mental strength needed to overcome challenges and face the future with confidence.
You make me strong, eh
The repetition of the previous line emphasizes the importance and impact of the person being sung to on the singer's life and well-being, while also conveying a sense of gratitude and appreciation.
Contributed by Kylie H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.