From the streets of Luanda to the stages of Houston, Angolan-born singer, songwriter, percussionist, and activist, Vivalda Ndula has become one of the most important cultural voices in Houston’s global music scene.
Luanda, the capital of Angola, is a coastal city in southern Africa where vibrant music and dance traditions have long been used to tell stories of survival and identity. After decades of civil war, those traditions continue to be a source of power for Ndula.
Her songs blend Angola’s traditional sounds with the Afro-contemporary sounds she’s created since making Houston her home.
“I grew up surrounded by storytellers and drummers,” Ndula said. “My grandfather was a storyteller, and my great-grandfather was a master of the Madimba (African Xylophone) and Kisanji (Thumb Piano). That rhythm of storytelling runs through me. It’s how I connect the past and the present.”
Ndula draws from those traditions while confronting modern challenges. Many of her songs focus on social issues such as child labor, human trafficking, and gender inequality.
Her father served in the Angolan Armed Forces during the country’s civil war. Upon his return from the war, Ndula’s mother worried about the children’s safety and ran to protect them. Ndula was one of ten children. Her father died when she was nine.
Those experiences shaped her perspective as an artist and activist. “I’ve seen what instability does to families,” she said. “That’s why I use music to raise awareness, because art can speak where politics can’t.”
Her single “Mázui”, which means “Voices” in Kimbundu, one of Angola’s native languages, is a call to action against modern slavery.
“That song came from pain,” she said. “It’s about those who have no platform to speak. Music became my way of giving them a voice.”
Before she became a solo artist, Ndula spent years performing with Angolan dance and percussion companies that toured internationally. She later founded her own group, Karapinha Dura, to fuse African rhythms with classical and contemporary sounds. That fusion remains her artistic signature.
Since moving to Houston in 2012, Ndula has become part of the city’s vibrant African diaspora arts community. She’s performed at cultural festivals, consular events, and world music stages, introducing local audiences to the depth of Angolan rhythm and language.
“Houston opened my heart in new ways,” she said. “When I perform here, people may not understand Kimbundu, but they feel the rhythm. That’s where connection begins.”
Ndula has earned international recognition, including honors from the Angola Music Awards, the International Songwriting Competition, and The Akademia Music Awards. She’s also shared the stage with global music icons such as Salif Keita, Cassandra Wilson, and Allen Toussaint.
Beyond music, Dula holds a master’s degree in Administration and Management of Cultural Industries, a credential she uses to mentor young artists and advocate for cultural preservation.
