Hijas del Sol ("The Daughters of the Sun") are Piruchi Apo Botupá and her niece Paloma Loribo Apo. They are Bubis, a Bantu tribe indigenous to the island of Bioko, off the coast of Equatorial Guinea in Western Africa. As they say, "In Africa, music is not a profession, it is a way to be and to feel."
They began their musical career separately, and united to participate in a contest at the Hispanic arts center Guineano in1992, where they won prizes for Best Original Song and Best Choreography. That same year they came for the first time to Spain to participate in the Expo of Seville and the Festival of the OTI. They returned finally in 1994, with the intention to consolidate a stable group, to begin to record and to bring to light the culture and the music of their country.
In December of 1995, they presented their first recording, Sibèba. This recording was composed as much of traditional music as of new songs that speak of the problems of the life, sung in their native tongue, Bubi. The CD also included a theme relating the anxieties of the emigrants to Madrid. This song was utilized in the soundtrack of the movie Taxi by Carlos Saura.
Hijas del Sol have sung in the most important European festivals, and have been invited to participate in the recordings of other artists: Rita Marley, Capercaille, Joâo Alfonso, Hispanic Mission, Mestisay among others.
Kottó, their second release, was directed by Alberto Gambino.
In the year 2000, they released Kchaba, the most personal and mature release yet. The music is very happy and very African, and includes the participation of exceptional instrumentalists and countrymen Pablo Rate, Alex Ikot and Cheri Malé. The understanding among them and musical producer Alberto Gambino is very solid, which reflects itself in the final result, where, in spite of the evident variety of styles, arrangements and tongues, not a single crack is seen.
Kchaba was awarded the title of Best Folk Album of 2000 at the Villa de Madrid awards. —Courtesy Calabash Music
