THE BAHATIZZ
 Levy Abad 
Winnipeg Ethnic News, 121517

When I first met the Bahatizz it was back in 2012 when I was organizing community multicultural events. The Bahatizz is a group composed of four sisters from Congo: Sylvie, Rashel, Francine and Odette singing socially reflective inspirational songs about the life of refugees.

As daughters of a Pastor, the four sisters started singing when they were still very young in church and later on became a songwriting group performing their own music.  I have listened and watched them perform their songs and you will be compelled to focus as their melody is awesome and the lyrics are profoundly reflective of the intensity of their refugee experience.

The Bahatizz sisters were born in a small village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (KILIBA) and were forced to go on exile in 2002 to avoid the turmoil that has been raging during the time. They fled to Uganda and lived as urban refugees. They arrived in Canada in 2012.


As Pastor's daughter, they are imbued with hope and the yearning for peace. Given this Christian spirit, they were steadfast that even in the midst of adversity in Uganda, they shone like stars and broke through as a singing group. In 2010, they released their first single ʺDon't Give Upʺ and I was lucky to be there to witness their performance at the Park Theatre. This song became a hit in Central and East Africa, leading them to get awards such as ʺbest female hip hop group of the year.ʺ

Scouring their postings online, I found out that ʺin 2012, four months following their arrival in Winnipeg, the ladies placed first in "Band on the Run," a local competition that highlights the top talent in the city. Later that year, out of thousands of musicians who entered searchlight contest, The Bahatizz were among the regional top 25 musicians in Winnipeg.ʺ 

The Bahatizz, as a group, shared the stage with Canadian Grammy Award nominated artist Fresh IE. This only shows that they have achieved a certain level of excellence. In terms of media exposure, they were also featured on national TV and throughout Africa. Their songs are also played by numerous radio stations. If you search for The Bahatizz online, you will find that they have an impressive profile.

 To date, I learned though Sylvie Bahati that they are finishing their 2nd album tentatively titled ʺSecond Chance,ʺ which hopefully will be out by 2018. I can`t wait to get hold of one and appreciate the melody and the beautiful messages of their songs that lift up the spirit and inspires one to go on in the midst of adversity .So friends, I dare you to check them out online for schedule of performances and enjoy The Bahatizz Experience.

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