African Celebrities: Rihanna

Monday, 11 November 2013

Rihanna

Robyn Rihanna Fenty known by her stage name Rihanna is a Barbadian recording artist, actress and fashion designer. She was born on February 20, 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados to Monica Braithwaite a retired Afro-Guyanese accountant and Ronald Fenty a warehouse supervisor of Barbadian and Irish descent.

Rihanna has two brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, and two half-sisters and a half-brother from her father's side, each born to different mothers from his previous relationships. She grew up in a three-bedroom bungalow in Bridgetown and sold clothes with her father in a stall on the street. Her parents divorced when she was 14.

Her career began when she met record producer Evan Rogers through mutual friends in late 2003 in Barbados. She caught the attention of Evan Rogers, who who asked her to come to his hotel room, where she performed renditions of the songs "Emotion" and "Hero". This impressed Rogers, who then took Rihanna and her mother to New York City to record some demo tapes.

Rihanna has received numerous awards and accolades including six Grammy Awards, five American Music Awards, 22 Billboard Music Awards, and two BRIT Awards. She has sold over 30 million albums and 120 million singles worldwide