{{Infobox musical artist | name = Shan'L | image = Shan'l en conférence de presse à Bonapriso 2021.jpg | birth_name = Channelle Lekogo | alias = La Kinda, la panthère. | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|02|06}} | birth_place = Libreville, Gabon | genre = R&B, Afropop | instrument = Vocals | years_active = 2012–present | label = Direct Prod, Sony Music Entertainment, Keyzit }} '''Channelle Lekogo''', also known as '''Shan'L''', (born 6 February 1989) is a Gabonese singer and songwriter.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2020-11-12 |title=Votez pour Shan'L - Gabon |url=https://musique.rfi.fr/musique/20201112-votez-shanl-gabon |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=RFI Musique |language=fr}}</ref>
Shan'L has released two studio albums and around ten singles. Her first album, titled ''Shan’l Is My Name'', was released in 2015<ref name="29décembre2015_tromatix.com">{{Cite web |last=tromatix |title=« Shan’L is my name », premier album de Shan’l La Kinda! |url=https://tromatix.com/index.php/2015/12/29/shanl-is-my-name-premier-album-de-shanl-la-kinda/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> and her second album ''Eklektik 2.0'' was released in 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-12-09 |title=Musique : Shan’L dévoile enfin son double album «Eklektik 2.0» |url=https://www.gabonreview.com/musique-shanl-devoile-enfin-son-double-album-eklektik-2-0/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=Gabonreview.com {{!}} Actualité du Gabon {{!}} |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Shan'l has been signed to Sony Music Entertainment Côte d'Ivoire since July 2019<ref>{{Cite web |last=Célébrités |first=Gabon |date=2019-07-27 |title=Shan’L et Direct Prod rejoignent la famille Sony Music Entertainment |url=https://gaboncelebrites.com/shanl-et-direct-prod-rejoignent-la-famille-sony-music-entertainment/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=GABON CELEBRITES |language=fr-FR}}</ref> then the label in 2024.
Shan'L has received numerous awards and distinctions, including ''Best'' ''Artist from Central Africa'' at the All Africa Music Awards in 2019<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Shan’l sacrée meilleure artiste d’Afrique centrale aux All Africa Music Awards 2019! - Info241.com |url=https://info241.com/shan-l-sacree-meilleure-artiste-d-afrique-centrale-aux-all,4766 |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=info241.com}}</ref> and at the {{Interlanguage link|Primud|fr}} in 2018 and 2020.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Medias241 |date=2020-10-12 |title=PRIMUD 2020 : SHAN’L, SACRÉE MEILLEURE ARTISTE D’AFRIQUE CENTRALE |url=https://medias241.com/actualites/primud-2020-shanl-sacree-meilleure-artiste-dafrique-centrale/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=MEDIAS241 |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
== Biography ==
=== Childhood and early career === Shan'L was born on 6 February 1989 in Gabon. She is originally from the province of Haut-Ogooué.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zoom sur Shan’l : la meilleure artiste féminine du Gabon {{!}} Lari Média |url=https://larimedia.org/zoom-sur-shanl-la-meilleure-artiste-feminine-du-gabon/ |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=larimedia.org |language=fr-FR}}</ref> She made her musical debut in the ''Les Anges ABC'' choir at the Lycée National Léon Mba in Libreville where she attended secondary school from 6th grade to her final year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2019 |title=Qui est la chanteuse Shan’l ? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkutmaJcook |access-date=12 July 2021 |website=TV5MONDE Afrique |language=fr}}</ref> She served as lead vocalist and choreographer in the school choir until she obtained her baccalaureate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-14 |title=Shan’L |url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/node/9567 |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=Music In Africa |language=en}}</ref>
In 2011, she participated in the Miss Gabon beauty pageant. She reached the final, but did not win the competition.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Seck |first=Nago |date=2013-10-30 |title=Shan’L |url=https://www.afrisson.com/shan-l-12874/ |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=Afrisson |language=fr-FR}}</ref> During the final of this competition, while singing ''Happy Birthday'' to a member of the jury, her performance was noticed and she was spotted by the Cameroonian-born producer Edgard Yonkeu who took her under his wing and brought her to the label Direct Prod.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-15 |title=Shan’L parle de sa participation à Miss Gabon 2012 : « Je voulais juste être sacrée pour avoir la bourse » ! |url=https://www.culturebene.com/57076-shanl-parle-de-sa-participation-a-miss-gabon-2012-je-voulais-juste-etre-sacree-pour-avoir-la-bourse.html |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=Culturebene |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
The Gabonese singer had a romantic relationship with Ibrahim Tchicaya for seven years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-03 |title=Gabon : Shan’l au cœur d'un scandale amoureux |url=https://www.afrique-sur7.fr/gabon-shanl-au-coeur-dun-scandale-amoureux |access-date=2025-08-31 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> A relationship in which she gave birth to a child, but Ibrahim Tchicaya's marriage to another woman created a controversy on social media, highlighting the violence the singer suffered.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tchizambengue : quand le hit trouve sa parfaite illustration |url=https://union.sonapresse.com/fr/tchizambengue-quand-le-hit-trouve-sa-parfaite-illustration |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=union.sonapresse.com |language=fr}}</ref>
=== Career === Shan'L was discovered in 2013 through the zouk track ''L'aveu'' in duet with the Gabonese singer Arielle T.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2020-11-12 |title=Votez pour Shan'L - Gabon |url=https://musique.rfi.fr/musique/20201112-votez-shanl-gabon |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=RFI Musique |language=fr}}</ref> She then multiplied collaborations with other Gabonese artists including Tina, J-Rio, FANG among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SHAN'L : L'Artiste gabonaise numéro 1 débarque en France |url=https://pr.dooweet.org/shanl--lartiste-gabonaise-numero-1-debarque-en-france |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=pr.dooweet.org |language=fr}}</ref>
In 2015, she won the Airtel Trace Music Star competition in Gabon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Célébrités |first=Gabon |date=2015-02-21 |title=Shan’l remporte le Airtel Trace Music Star Gabon |url=https://gaboncelebrites.com/shanl-remporte-le-airtel-trace-music-star-gabon/ |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=GABON CELEBRITES |language=fr-FR}}</ref> She was among the 13 national finalists who participated in the pan-African final held in Kenya in April 2015, under the patronage of American singer Akon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 March 2015 |title=Découvre les 13 finalistes de Airtel TRACE Music Star ! |url=https://fr.trace.tv/people/decouvre-les-13-finalistes-de-airtel-trace-music-star/ |access-date=12 July 2021 |website=fr.trace.tv |language=fr}}</ref>
A few months later, in August 2015 she released her debut album of 17 tracks entitled ''Shan’L is my name''. It includes the tracks ''Où est le gars'', ''Camisolé'', ''Je me bats pour réussir'' and ''Better Think.''<ref name="29décembre2015_tromatix.com">{{Cite web |last=tromatix |title=« Shan’L is my name », premier album de Shan’l La Kinda! |url=https://tromatix.com/index.php/2015/12/29/shanl-is-my-name-premier-album-de-shanl-la-kinda/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
It was the song ''"Tchizambengue''", which was released in 2018, that propelled her onto the international stage. In it, the singer praises "Tchiza" (mistresses, husband stealers). The song shocked the public and generated considerable controversy. The music video features Cameroonian singer {{Interlanguage link|Nathalie Koah|fr}} and Miss Gabon 2013 , Ruth Jennifer Ondo Mouchita. The song was a huge success, accumulating over 10 million views on YouTube in just a few months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-10 |title=Musique : « Tchizambengue », une ode aux voleuses de maris – Jeune Afrique |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/640584/culture/musique-tchizambengue-une-ode-aux-voleuses-de-maris/ |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=JeuneAfrique.com |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Since then, she has released a string of hit singles, including "''C'est Pas Les Gbés Gbés Gbés", "Sérré serré''", and ''"Poupish''", among others.
In 2020, Shan'l was a finalist in the pan-African RFI Discovery Prize competition. She won the public vote, but finished in second place, behind Congolese singer {{Interlanguage link|Young Ace Wayé|fr}}, winner of the competition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-10 |title=Young Ace Wayé, lauréat du Prix RFI Découvertes 2020 |url=https://musique.rfi.fr/rap/20201210-young-ace-waye-congo-brazzaville |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=RFI Musique |language=fr}}</ref>
In December 2020, she released ''Eklektik 2.0'', a 24-track album featuring her hit singles including ''Tchizambengue, Yayayobé'' and ''Okokè''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-12-09 |title=Musique : Shan’L dévoile enfin son double album «Eklektik 2.0» |url=https://www.gabonreview.com/musique-shanl-devoile-enfin-son-double-album-eklektik-2-0/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=Gabonreview.com {{!}} Actualité du Gabon {{!}} |language=fr-FR}}</ref> It also includes the track ''Où est le mariage'' in collaboration with Congolese singer Fally Ipupa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-15 |title=Gabon: «Où est le mariage?», le nouveau clip de Shan’l La Kinda fait le buzz |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20201115-gabon-o%C3%B9-est-le-mariage-le-nouveau-clip-shanl-la-kinda-fait-le-buzz |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=RFI |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-19 |title=Gabon: marre d'être maîtresse, Shan’L demande le mariage |url=https://information.tv5monde.com/video/gabon-marre-d-etre-maitresse-shan-l-demande-le-mariage |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=TV5MONDE |language=fr}}</ref>
She has ventured into cinema<ref>{{Cite web |last=Modérateur 2 |date=2024-11-22 |title=Série : ‘’Eki’’, de retour sur l’écran ! - |url=https://gabonactu.com/blog/2024/11/23/serie-eki-de-retour-sur-lecran/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> and took on the role of a battered woman in season 2 of the series ''{{Interlanguage link|Eki, la famille c'est secret|fr}}''.
== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* 2015: ''Shan’l Is My Name'' * 2020: ''Eklektik 2.0'' * 2026: ''Résilience''
=== Singles ===
* 2015: ''Je me bats pour réussir'' * 2015: ''Better Think'' * 2015: ''Où est le gars'' * 2015: ''Camisolé'' * 2016: ''My Love'' * 2017: ''Je te suivrais'' avec Rico * 2017: ''Love It'' with Magasco * 2017: ''Maria'' * 2018: ''Tchizambengue'' * 2018: ''Serré Serré'' * 2019: ''C'est Pas Les Gbés Gbés Gbés'' * 2019: ''Poupish'' * 2019: ''Yayayobé'' * 2020: ''Où est le mariage'' with Fally Ipupa * 2020: ''Je veux faire l'amour'' * 2021: ''Okokè''
=== Collaborations ===
* 2012: ''Dormir seul'' de F.A.N.G * 2012: ''L'aveu'' de Arielle T * 2014: ''Tu vas te Waz'' de J-Rio * 2017: ''Bonobo'' by Créol * 2020: ''Il paraît'' from Mimie * 2021: ''Pehi Sair'' de Shado Chris
== Prizes and Awards ==
* 2018: Prix International des Musiques Urbaines et du Coupé-décalé (PRIMUD), Meilleure artiste d’Afrique Centrale<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Medias241 |date=2020-10-12 |title=PRIMUD 2020 : SHAN’L, SACRÉE MEILLEURE ARTISTE D’AFRIQUE CENTRALE |url=https://medias241.com/actualites/primud-2020-shanl-sacree-meilleure-artiste-dafrique-centrale/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=MEDIAS241 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> * 2018: African Musik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA), Meilleure artiste d’Afrique Centrale (Nomination)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ondo |first=Albertine |date=2018-10-17 |title=African Musik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) 2018 : Shan’L, unique représentante du Gabon |url=https://lalibreville.com/african-musik-magazine-awards-afrimma-2018-shanl-unique-representante-gabon/ |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=La Libreville |language=fr-FR}}</ref> * 2019: Meilleure artiste d'Afrique centrale'','' All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)<ref name=":4" /> * 2020: Meilleure artiste d’Afrique Centrale, (PRIMUD) * 2020: African Musik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA), Meilleure artiste d’Afrique Centrale (Nomination)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Célébrités |first=Gabon |date=2020-09-13 |title=Shan’L nommée aux AFRIMMA 2020 |url=https://gaboncelebrites.com/shanl-nominee-afrimma-2020/ |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=GABON CELEBRITES |language=fr-FR}}</ref> * 2020: Meilleure artiste féminine aux Kotas (''The Gabonese Awards of the year'')<ref>{{Cite web |last=media |first=par Focus Groupe |date=2021-01-04 |title=Shan’l sacrée meilleure artiste féminine aux Kotas |url=https://www.focusgroupemedia.com/shanl-sacree-meilleure-artiste-feminine-aux-kotas/ |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=Focus Groupe Media |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
* 2021: Meilleur artiste féminine d'Afrique centrale au All African Music Awards
* 2021: Meilleur collaboration de l'année avec le titre (où est le mariage) en feat avec le chanteur congolais Fally Ipupa (Nomination)
* 2021: Meilleur artiste francophone au (Canal D'or) Nomination.
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Sister project links|Category:Shan'L}} Category:Living people Category:1981 births Category:People from Libreville Category:Gabonese singers Category:Gabonese songwriters Category:21st-century Gabonese women