"Learn more, better your mind and respect a person and their spirit." -Zap Mama

Her soul of Africa, Her soul of rhythm, & Her rhythm of Ancestry In Progress:

In every form of music there lies the influence and rhythm of Africa, whether jazz, folk, classical, hip-hop, or pop, the beat of Africa is instilled lively in each and every one, but when you can feel the soul and tradition of Africa that makes you visualize her atmosphere and groove to her beat, thats when you know you are experiencing “Ancestry in Progress”

Born in Zaire, also known as the Congo, to a Belgian father and a Congolese Mother, Marie Dualne, aka Zap Mama, found herself having to flee the land of the Congo at the age of three after the war broke out. After living amongst the Pygmies, they eventually made their way to Brussels, bringing about a unified yet uncommon childhood experience. “While children from her school were learning classical music instruments, Marie's mother was teaching her the "polyphonic" singing of the Central African Pygmies, a form Marie considered "boring, because it was traditional-CDW Interview." Marie was heavily influenced by the likes of Stevie Wonder and early hip-hop, and she spent times where she tested her vocal skills by imitating the great Roberta Flack and the Fat Boys’ Human Beat Box. It wasn't until Marie returned to the country now known as Congo at age 18 that she developed an appreciation for the African vocal melodies. In 1990, the influence, the history, the stories, the life, the soul, and the playfulness of Africa was brought to the forefront in only a style, form, and grace that Marie Dualne could give birth to, and she called it Zap Mama! Zap Mama, is an a capella group that exhales a true cross cultural unification of sounds, culture, emotions, and soul.

Marie has worked with the soulful minds of The Roots, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Common, Bilal, Nelly Furtado, and the song “Iko-Iko" can be heard on the Mission Impossible II soundtrack. She sings in an ancient form known as Polyphony, which is where each person has to say a word, but at the same time put a note on it. And then you sing it all together, making one sound all fused together. Polyphonic means more than one sound, a form in which her mother would sing traditionally around there Belguim home. As Marie stated in her interview with Roy Hurst of NPR: “I receive a lot of power and beauty from her [mothers] African culture.” Se told ymib that although she grew up in Europe, her mother created for her an imaginary Africa through her stories.

Her latest album Ancestry In Progress pour out the culture of Marie's heritage as she splices in bits of pieces of different styles from all over, creating a sound that is a true unique gem to have graced our ears.

Every song on this album and even her past albums carries it's own message yet the strength of her background is never lost. Take for example her compilation with Erykah Badu on the song “Bandy Bandy”. Marie stated that she truly felt that her and Erykah's souls fused together to meet as one. When she is performing she told us that: “I feel joy and I feel happiness because my energies fuse and individual energies become one double energy”, and just listening to the song and watching the Bandy Bandy video, makes you want to fuse in and be apart of this unity she speaks of! “Bandy Bandy is like an imaginary snake...when you do not feel good, or have a bad day you stretch your body like a snake going everywhere in side of you and you stretch and breathe, sort of like yoga to revive yourself. It is a song about the oppression of a big city, and how to escape it by having a walk, allowing yourself to be astonished by the beauty of nature. [Maybe it's] an ant, a bird or a tree… all these small things. I learned that from my American friends in New York: people who have lived there for a long time, but still feel very close to nature. And the message of her song "Yelling Away" is that no matter how hard life may be,try to escape from the gray reality - (CDW Interview)”

How does the world look through the eyes of Marie Dualne: “It is one big place with different colors, essences, and small organizations.”

Current/future projects that she would like to achieve? A multimedia children's' book.

Things that she does daily/routinely to fulfill inner peace within her soul? Prayer and meditation.

Most memorable experiences within her life: Having kids, falling in love, and losing a loved one.

Current Project: “I'm focusing on finishing my next album/musical "Art of Work".

Marie carries a passion for connecting with different humans from one part of the globe to another and as she told us the name “Zap Mama” means: “ Zapping from one subject to another country to another culture “. It is with clarity that one can feel the essence of Marie and her passion for culture and variety whether vibing to her sweet sweet melody or festing your eyes upn her creative and eclectic fashions; through it all she brings us a wonderful mix of ancient musical traditions as well as such a beautiful way of looking and experiencing the world in which we live.

She shares the following sweet and short words of wisdom that she would like for you to know and carry with you: “Talk to yourself, your soul, every day about your ego and society to free yourself.”