Monique Seka has embraced, not only the music of her homeland, but influences from around the globe. During an early-`90s interview, she explained, "When I sing, I don`t see Africa, but I see all the Black people." Descended from a family of musicians, Seka began her career in 1982 as a member of her uncle Jhon Morgan`s group, the Maya Melodye Band. After a lengthy stint with the Ivory Coast TV Orchestra, she launched her solo career with an album of love songs, Tontie Affou, in 1985. Seka`s second album, Missounwa, released four years later, received the Gran Prix de la Musique Afro-Caraibeene. With the release of her third album, Okaman, in 1995, Seka reached out to an international audience. The title track sold more than 1,000,000 copies