Álvaro Yuri Alberto da Cunha (born 13 September 1980)[1] is an Angolan singer. He is famous for songs such as “Atchu tchu tcha”, "Tu és o amor", and "Kuma kwa kie". His stage presence has earned him the nickname of "The Show Man".[2][3]
Biography
Cunha was born in Sumbe in the province of Cuanza Sul on 13 September 1980. He and his family moved to Luanda in 1983, when he was three years old, due to the Angolan Civil War. With his musical talents, he began performing at 10 years old and began schooling at the school of Rádio Nacional de Angola. He released his first CD in 1993.[4]
In 2004, with Makumba, he won that year's Top Rádio Luanda.[1][5] Cunha was also the winner of Rádio Luanda 2008, in the Kianda do Sucesso category for his amount of shows and recognition of his country's culture. He was featured in the song “Mona Ki Ngi Xica” in Playing for Change's 2009 album Playing For Change: Songs Around The World.[2]
His 2013 collaboration with South African musical group Uhuru, "Y-tjukutja", became one the most-played songs in South Africa at the time.[13] They performed the song at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 and won the award for Best Collaboration with the song. Cunha himself was nominated twice, with Song of the Year for "Atchu tchu tcha" and as Best Lusophone act.[14][15] He would perform at MEO Sudoeste later that year.[16]
In 2020, Cunha was nominated by the 2020 African Entertainment Awards USA for Best Palop Male Artist.[17]
