The musical duo Ibeyi, a band name that fittingly means “twins” in Yoruba, moved the crowd with their appreciation and embodiment of their culture at the 9:30 Club on Sept. 30.
Born in Paris, but with African roots, twins Naomi and Lisa Díaz grew up speaking the native language of Nigeria, Yoruba. There are over 20 million speakers of Yoruba, but when it comes to the music industry, Yoruba representation is hard to find. While the performance touched everyone present, the cultural resonance of Ibeyi’s music particularly affected audience members who shared the culture of the band. The pair incorporates Yoruba, French, Spanish and English into their music.
Their self-titled debut album came out Feb. 11, which took off after Beyoncé used their most popular song as accompaniment to an Instagram video. It isn’t surprising Beyoncé chose to promote these vocal powerhouses, seeing as they can boast stunning visuals, live percussion and mastery of the keyboard.
Each song on the album honors an important part of their life and their inspiration from parents, siblings and goddesses. While there is no doubt they will only grow in popularity, the possibility of the duo making the jump into the mainstream music scene is unlikely. Their music appeals to a specific audience and it seems likely Ibeyi will continue to sing in honor of their heritage and family, rather than allowing popular culture to shape their image.