Senzaa lands three major 2026 festival slots across West Africa

By AI, Created 10:03 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Togolese singer-songwriter Senzaa has locked in three festival appearances for 2026 in Lomé and Cotonou, expanding her visibility across West Africa. The schedule adds to a decade-long rise that already includes awards, a TikTok soundtrack placement and high-profile performances in Paris.

Why it matters: - Senzaa’s 2026 calendar puts an independent Togolese female artist at the center of three major regional festivals in one year. - The bookings extend her reach across francophone West Africa and reinforce her profile beyond Togo. - The schedule also highlights the growing footprint of artists who operate through their own companies rather than major labels.

What happened: - Senzaa, the stage name of Akate H. Mehezaa Sandra, confirmed three 2026 festival appearances. - She will perform as a featured artist at FIMO228 in Lomé. - She will headline the fifth edition of the Elle Mérite Tout festival in Cotonou. - She will also take a central role at the Chant des Linguère International Festival in Lomé. - The announcement was made for a 2026 calendar that the release describes as one of the busiest international schedules yet for an independent female artist based in Togo.

The details: - The Chant des Linguère edition is staged under the high patronage of the Republic of Togo and four United Nations agencies: FAO, UNICEF, UNESCO and UNDP. - FIMO228 is covered each year by broadcasters including RFI, France 24 and TV5 Monde. - Earlier in 2026, Senzaa’s collaboration with Santrinos Raphaël, “M’gbabidjio,” was selected as the official soundtrack for TikTok’s House of Challenge program. - Senzaa launched her solo career in 2014 after first appearing on stage in 2007 with the tradi-modern ensemble The Seeds. - She won Best Female Artist at the 2021 All Music Awards in Togo. - She received a 2024 KORA Awards nomination in the Best Musical Revelation of the Year category. - In 2025, Senzaa performed twice at the Zénith de Paris – La Villette. - She opened for Togolese group Toofan’s 20th-anniversary concert in April 2025. - She later appeared as a guest performer at Ivorian artist Josey’s concert in December 2025. - The National Miss Togo Committee commissioned Senzaa to compose the official single for the pageant’s 30th anniversary in 2025. - Senzaa’s recordings span Afrobeat, Afropop, Afro-soul, Afro-fusion, Afro-zouk and Dancehall. - Her music is distributed on Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Boomplay, Audiomack and YouTube Music. - She records in five languages: French, English, Mina, Ewe and Guin. - Senzaa Holding covers music production, visual creation, event management, artistic consulting and mentoring of emerging talent. - The company operates independently in a regional industry where artists are often tied to international labels or male-led production houses. - Senzaa has more than 300,000 followers on Facebook. - Her audience spans Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Cameroon, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. - Her social links include Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X.

Between the lines: - Senzaa’s festival run suggests a move from national recognition to broader francophone market visibility. - The combination of institutional backing, broadcaster attention and a TikTok placement points to a career that now spans live events, mainstream media and platform-driven discovery. - Senzaa Holding gives the artist more control over production and branding than many regional peers.

What’s next: - Senzaa is set to appear across the three announced 2026 festivals in Lomé and Cotonou. - The dates place her in front of both local and international audiences throughout West Africa. - Her 2026 run may further test how far an independent Togolese act can scale across the region without a major-label structure.

The bottom line: - Senzaa enters 2026 with her biggest regional festival calendar yet and a growing platform built on live performance, digital reach and independent ownership.