NPR

Ibeyi On Spirituality And Joy In 'Ash'

The French-Cuban twins of Ibeyi are back with Ash, a new record that confronts themes of womanhood, racism and faith.
Ibeyi's second album, <em>Ash</em>, is available now.

Lisa-Kaindé Díaz and Naomi Díaz, the French-Cuban twins who make up Ibeyi, have a knack for blending disparate sounds together.

Perhaps it comes from their cultural background; their father was Cuban and their mother was French-Venezuelan, resulting in a childhood that — they say — fell "between two worlds that were totally different." The sounds of their youth have found a way into the music they make — an intoxicating blend of hip-hop, electronica and traditional Yoruba.

The sisters burst onto the music scene in their latest record, continues in that vein and adds deeper explorations of womanhood and, at times, racism.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR1 min read
Deadline Extended: NPR Student Podcast Challenge entries are now due May 31
Entries for our sixth annual contest for middle and high school students (and our first-ever fourth grade competition) are now due Friday, May 31 at midnight E.T.
NPR1 min read
'Brotherless Night,' An Ambitious Novel About Sri Lankan Civil War, Wins $150K Prize
The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction is a relatively new literary award given to women and nonbinary authors. This year's winner is V.V. Ganeshananthan for her book Brotherless Night.
NPR3 min readAmerican Government
Biden's National Monument Expansion Applauded By Allies, But Big Obstacles Loom
President Biden dramatically expanded two national monuments in California. But there are growing concerns that federal land managers are struggling to manage existing monuments designated since 2016.

Related Books & Audiobooks