Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu — singer with roots in the Russian Empire

Erykah Badu is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who became one of the defining voices of neo-soul with her debut album Baduizm (1997). Known as the Queen of Neo-Soul, her music blends R&B, jazz, hip-hop, and spoken word with deeply spiritual and Afrocentric themes.

Tracing the roots — Russia (Jewish roots)

Badu's mother Kolleen Gipson has Russian-Jewish ancestry in her family background. This heritage, alongside Badu's African-American identity, gives her one of the more unexpected multicultural ancestries in contemporary music.

Historical context

Russian Empire · c. 1721–1917

Russia (Jewish roots). At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.

Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)

A career defined by ambition