Princess Erika

Biography

Princess Erika (born Erika Dobong'na; 5 April 1964, Paris) is a French singer and actress with Cameroonian origins. She is particularly known for her reggae songs "Trop de bla-bla" ou "Faut qu'j'travaille×Faut qu'j'travaille1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Faut qu'j'travaille (radio mix)3:582Faut qu'j'travaille (quiet storm)3:58".

Biography

In 1982, Erika formed with her sisters a band named Blackheart Daughters founded by her elder sister « Princess Mataji Maa Tejomayee Devi (born Esther Dobong’Na Essiene) also known as Estha Divine, then joined the band Princess and the Royal Sound, with whom she made several tours, opening for Jamaican singer Dennis Brown. In 1988, she recorded "Trop de bla-bla" in London and achieved a minor success in France (#39 on the Top 50, but later, the song became famous for being used in an advertising campaign for MMA) between 1999 and 2025. She released the single "Tendresse" and her first album in 1992. She opened the concerts for Les Négresses Vertes. In 1995, she released her second studio album, D'origine×D'origine1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Descends d'en haut5:122Viens4:043Tu t'affoles4:434Peur de moi3:495Décidée4:286Long Time4:507Faut qu'j'travaille4:568C'est ma vie5:019M'emmener4:4910Comme...4:1711M'en allant3:3312Racines5:05, and the lead single, "Faut qu'j'travaille×Faut qu'j'travaille1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Faut qu'j'travaille (radio mix)3:582Faut qu'j'travaille (quiet storm)3:58", hit No. 15 in France. Two years later, she recorded a duet with Marc Lavoine, "Les Hommes sont des Femmes comme les autres". She participated in Les Enfoirés and wrote several songs for various artists such as "Embrasse-moi" for the Nubians.
In 2004, she also participated in the compilation Agir Réagir intended to raise funds to help the Moroccans who survived an earthquake on 24 February 2002. In 2005, she was a contestant on La Ferme Célébrités. She organized the four editions of the concerts Les Voix de l'espoir, performed with many other artists in a charity fundraiser. She covered the songs "La Vie en rose" and "J'ai encore rêvé d'elle" with Pierpoljak on the cover album Il est 5 heures Kingston s'éveille. She was an occasional actress in films and theatre, and appeared in Le Petit Trésor.

Family

Father: Julien Édouard Dobong’Na Essiene (died in 2022)
Mother: Marie-Claire Ngo Matip spouse Dobong’Na Essiene
Erika has two children : Julien (born in 1982) and Oudima (2003).
Elder sister: Princess Mataji Maa Tejomayee Devi (born Esther Dobong’Na Essiene) also known as Estha Divine
Younger sister: Eva Dobong’Na Essiene aka sister Hewan (died in 2011)
Younger sister: Elga Dobong’Na Essiene

Albums

1992 : Princess Erika
1995 : D'origine
1999 : Tant qu'il y aura
2005 : À l'épreuve du temps
2011 : Juste Erika
2022 : J'suis pas une sainte

Singles

1988 : "Trop de bla-bla" – No. 39 in France
1989 : "Tendresse"
1995 : "Faut qu'j'travaille×Faut qu'j'travaille1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Faut qu'j'travaille (radio mix)3:582Faut qu'j'travaille (quiet storm)3:58" – No. 15 in France, No. 38 in Belgium (Wallonia)
On s'en va
C'est ma vie
Nouvelle Génération
Sur la route du reggae