Black singers from the Eurovision Song Contest

Imaani - "Where Are You

Updated: 23 April 2023 

Black singers have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1966. The Eurovision Song Contest is the annual song contest of the European Broadcasting Union and member states of Europe. It's watched by approximately 180 million television viewers every year, according to statista.

The first Black singer who performed in the contest was Milly Scott, she represented the Netherlands in 1966. 

The first Black singer who won the contest was Dave Benton, he won the contest with Estonian rock singer Tanel. They represented Estonia in 2001.  

The first African American was the jazz saxophonist Sahib Shihab, who played the flute for the Swedish song in 1966.

If want you to know which Black singers sang at the contest check this list of singers. If you want to know which countries have the most Black singers scroll down to the ranking list at the end of this posting.

The competition is broadcasted throughout Europe, but also in Australia, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Korea, New Zealand and the United States, even though morst of these countries do not participate. Australia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since its debut in 2015. See the website of Eurovision Song Contest here.

List of Black singers from the Eurovision Song Contest

1966 - Netherlands: Milly Scott - "Fernando en Filippo" - 15th

1967 - Portugal: Eduardo Nascimento - "O vento mudou" - 12th

1975 - Italy: Wesly Johson (Dori Ghezzi & Wess) - "Era "-  3rd

1977 - Germany: Ramona Wulf and Ronda Heath part of Silver Convention - Telegram - 8th

1978 - Netherlands: Donald Lieveld part of Harmony - "t Is OK" - 13th

1981 - Denmark: Debbie Cameron & Tommy Seebach - "Krøller eller ej" - 11th

1990 - France: Joëlle Ursull - "White and Black Blues" - 2nd

1992 - France: Jean-Marc Monnerville as Kali - "Monté la riviè" - 8th
1992 - Netherlands: Humphrey Campbell "Wijs Me de Weg" ("Show Me the Way") - 9th

1993 - Netherlands: Ruth Jacott - "Vrede" ("Peace") - 1993 6th

1994 - Portugal: Sara Tavares – “Chamar a música” - 8th

1995 - Portugal: António José Ramos da Cruz - "Baunilha e chocolate" - 21st
1995 - Austria: Stella Jones - "Die Welt dreht sich verkehrt" - 13th

1996 - Netherlands: Maxine and Franklin Brown - "De Eerste Keer" ("The first time") - 7th

1998 - France: Marie-Line - "Oú aller?" - 23rd
1998 - Netherlands: - Edsilia Rombley - "Hemel en Aarde" ("Heaven and Earth") 1998 - 4th

1998  - United Kingdom: Melanie Crosdale (Imaani) - "Where Are You?" - 2nd

1999 - Bosnia-Herzegovina: Dino & Béatrice – "Putnici" -  7th
1999 - United Kingdom: Louise Rose, Kelli Clark-Sternberg (Precious) - "Say It Again" - 12th
1999 - Norway: Stig van Eijk - "Living My Life Without You" - 14th

1999 - Israel: Eden - "Happy Birthday" - 5th

2000 - Austria: The Rounder Girls - "All To You" - 14th

2001 - Estonia: Dave benton & Tanel - "Everybody" - 1st
2001 - Portugal: Tony Jackson (MTM Marco Quelhas) - "Só sei ser feliz assim" ("Only can be happy this way") - 17th

2002 - Sweden: Afro-Dite - "Never let you go" - 8th

2005 – United Kingdom: Javine - "Touch My Fire" - 22nd
2005 - Netherlands: Glennis Grace – “My Impossible Dream” - semi-final

2006 - Israel: Eddie Butler - "Together We Are One" - 23th

2007 - Netherlands: Edisillia Rombly - "On Top Of The World" - semi-final

2008 - United Kingdom: Andy Abraham - "Even If" - 23th

2009 - United Kingdom: Jade Ewen - "It's My Time" - 2009 - 5th

2010 - France: Jessy Kimbamgi (Matador) - "Allez Ola Olé" -  12th

2011 - United Kingdom: Simon Webbe part of Blue - "I Can" - 11th
2011 - Norway: Stella Mwangi -    "Haba Haba  (Little by little)"    - 17th   
2011 - San Marino: Senhit (Senhit Zadik Zadik) - "Stand By" - semi-final

2012 - Ukraine: Gaitana  - "Be My Guest" - 15th   

2014 - Hungary: András Kállay-Saunders  -  "Running"  - 5th   
2014 - France: Patrick Biyik with Twin Twin - "Moustache" - 26th

2015 - Latvia: Aminata (Aminata Savadogo) - "Love Injected" - 6th
2015 - Belarus: Uzari & Maimuna - "Time" -  (semi-final)

2017 - San Marino: Jimmi Wilson with Valentina Monetta - "Sprit of the Night - semi-final 

2018 - Austria: Cesár Sampson - "Nobody But You"- 3rd
2018 - Bulgaria: Trey Campbell, Johnny Manuel (Equinox) - "Bones" - 14th

2019 - Sweden: John Lundvik - "Too Late For Love" - 5th

2020 - Czech Republic: Benny Cristo - "Kemama" 
2020 - Malta: Destiny Chukunyere - "All my Love"  
2020 - Israel: Eden Alene - "Feker Libi"  
2020 - Netherlands: Jeangu Macrooy - "Grow" 
2020 - San Marino: Senhit (Senhit Zadik Zadik) 
2020 - Sweden: The Mamas - "Move" 
* The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak​.

2021 - Malta:  Destiny Chukunyere - "Je Me Casse" - 7th
2021 - Sweden: Tusse (Tousin Chiza) - "Voices" - 14th
2021 - Israel: Eden Aline - "Set Me Free - 17th
2021 - San Marino: Senhit (Senhit Zadik Zadik) -  "Adrenalina" - 22nd
2021 - Netherlands: Jeangu Macrooy - "Birth Of New Age" - 23rd
2021 - Czech Republic: Benny Cristo - "Omaga" - (semi-final)

2022 - Belgium: - Jérémie Makiese - "Miss You" - 19th
2022 - Germany: Malik Harris - "Rockstars" - 25th

2023 - Ukraine - Jeffery Kenny part of  Andrii & Jeffery - "TVORCHI" -

 *  The list doesn't include singers who could also be regarded as ethnic minorities. For instance, Dutch-Indonesian Stella Maessen represented The Netherlands in 1970 and Belgium in 1977 and 1982.  Or Chanel Terrero, who is a multiracial Cuban, and represented Spain in 2022. And many others. .

Some songs

Below a list of some of the entries of the Estonia, UK, The Netherlands, France, Portugal and Israel. The ranking is based on a final of 25 countries.

Estonia

Winner of Eurovision copenhagen 2001

Dave benton & Tanel - "Everybody" - 2001


In 2001 Dave benton performed with budding Estonian rock singer Tanel Padar and boyband 2XL to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 with their song "Everybody". Benton was born on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba.

United Kingdom

Jade Ewen - "It's My Time" - 2009



The United Kingdom was a part of the "Big Four", so the song was entered directly into the final of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, held on 16 May 2009 in Moscow. The show received an average of 7.8 million viewers. She finished in 5th place.

Andy Abraham - "Even If" - 2008



According to betting site PaddyPower.com, the odds for the song to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 were 100/1. In the end, the song reached last place at 25th, with 14 points. The last place triggerd a response from Terry Wogan, he blamed "racist" Eastern Europeans for Britain's dismal showing in the Eurovision Song Contest. Read full story here.

Imaani - "Where Are You?" - 1998



"Where Are You?" was the United Kingdom entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, held in Birmingham, United Kingdom. It was sung by Imaani Saleem (Melanie Crosdale), the first black singer for the UK. She almost won. The song received 166 points, placing second in a field of 25. Imaani was born in Nottingham. Interesting detail is that she is one of the regular singers of the famous London Acid Jazz band Incognito.

Germany

Silver Convention - Telegram - 1977

Two members of the trio Silver Convention were black: Ramona Wulf (a daugher of an AA soldier and a German) and a New Yorker Rhonda Heath. The group finished 8the place. 

The Netherlands

Glennis Grace Netherlands – “My Impossible Dream” - 2005



Glennis Grace won the national contest in the Netherlands for the Eurovision song contest 2005, but didn’t make in to final. She had to leave the contest in the semi-final. Glennis Grace is born in Amsterdam to a Dutch mother and  a Dutch Caribbean father.

Edsilia Rombley - "Hemel en Aarde" ("Heaven and Earth") - 1998



Edsilia Rombley pulled the Netherlands out of semi-finals to the finals. Only the low ranking countries of the previous year had to compete in the semi-finals. In the finals she came in fourth place in a tele voting contest with the song “Hemel en aarde" ("Heaven and earth"). It was the best placing the Netherlands had seen since their last win in 1975. Edisila is born in Amsterdam and is of Dutch Caribbean descent.

Maxine and Franklin Brown- "De Eerste Keer" ("The first time" - 1996



Maxine & Franklin Brown represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996. Their song “De eerste keel” (“The First Time”) came 7th with 78 points.

Ruth Jacott - "Vrede" ("Peace") - 1993



In 1993 Ruth Jacott was the second black female singer for the Netherland. She came in sixth place with the “song “Vrede" ("Peace"). Ruth Jaccot is of Surinamese descent.

Humphrey Campbell "Wijs Me de Weg" ("Show Me the Way") - 1992



Humphrey Campbell performing "Wijs Me de Weg" ("Show Me the Way"), the Dutch entry at the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest. He finished 9th place. Campbell is of Surinamese origins.

Milly Scott - "Fernando en Filippo" - 1966



Milly Scott was the first black singer for the Netherlands in 1966. She finished 15th place. Scott is of Surinamese descent.

France

Matador - "Allez Ola Olé" (2010)



Matador, born Jessy Kimbangi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, represented France this year. Matador mixes zouk, dancehall, reggae, and hiphop, building on American, African and Caribbean influences. France finished 12th place.


Joëlle Ursull - "White and Black Blues" - 1990



France's entry in the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest "White and Black Blues" by Joëlle Ursull who got the 2nd place. Usull is of Guadeloupean origins.

France is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision Song Contest and has entered the competition fifty-two times since their debut at the very first contest in 1956. However, in recent years, the French results have been somewhat disappointing. Since 1998, when the televoting was invented, France has almost always been in the bottom-10 countries in the final. (Wikipedia.)

Portugal

Sara Tavares – “Chamar a música” -1994



Tavares won the Portuguese selection for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. With the song Chamar a música (Call my music), She achieved an eighth position in Dublin, which is still one of the best Portuguese results in the contest ever. After her appearance in the contest, she went on to become a famous artist in her country, and later on in Europe.

Eduardo Nascimento - "O vento mudou" - 1967



In 1967 Eduardo Nascimento entered the Portuguese Eurovision selection contest, the Festival da Canção, as a solo artist with the song "O vento mudou" ("The Wind Changed"). He won the event by a comfortable margin, and went forward to represent Portugal in the 12th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 8 April in Vienna, where "O vento mudou" finished in joint 12th place of the 17 entries

Sweden

Afro-Dite - "Never let you go" - 2002



Afro-dite is a Swedish pop group made up of three pop singers. The group consists of Blossom Tainton-Lindquist, Gladys del Pilar and Kayo Shekoni. Afro-dite reached the 8th place

Israel

Eddie Butler - "Together We Are One" - 2006



Eddie Butler was the Israeli entry for the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, with soul ballad "Together We Are One". He finished 23th place.

Butler was born in the Negev Israel. Butler's parents are Americans, and members of the Black Hebrews African-American community that believes they are a lost tribe of Israel. His mother and father came to Israel for a visit 37 years ago and decided to stay. 

Ranking list

Black singers sing at Eurovision Song Contest since 1966. If you want to know which countries where the first and wich where the last to have Black singers on the big stage, see the ranking list (2023) .

1. Netherlands (10)

1966 - Milly Scott - "Fernando en Filippo" - 15th
1978 - Donald Lieveld part of Harmony - "t Is OK" - 13th
1992 - Humphrey Campbell - "Wijs Me de Weg" ("Show Me the Way") - 9th
1993 - Ruth Jacott - "Vrede" ("Peace") - 1993 6th
1996 - Maxine and Franklin Brown - "De Eerste Keer" ("The first time") - 7th
1998 - Edsilia Rombley - "Hemel en Aarde" ("Heaven and Earth") - 1998 - 4th
2005 - Glennis Grace – “My Impossible Dream” - semi-final
2007 - Edisillia Rombly - "On Top Of The World" - semi-final
2020 - Jeangu Macrooy - "Grow" -  Contest cancelled
2021 - Jeangu Macrooy - "Birth Of New Age" - 23rd

2. Portugal (4)

1967 - Eduardo Nascimento - "O vento mudou" - 12th
1994 - Sara Tavares – “Chamar a música” - 8th
1995 - António José Ramos da Cruz - "Baunilha e chocolate" - 21st
2001 - Tony Jackson (MTM Marco Quelhas) - "Só sei ser feliz assim" ("Only can be happy this way") - 17th

3. Italy (1)

1975 - Wesly Johson (Dori Ghezzi & Wess) - "Era "-  3rd

4. Germany (2)

1977 - Ramona Wulf and Ronda Heath part of Silver Convention - "Telegram" - 8th
2022 - Malik Harris - "Rockstars" - 25th

5. Denmark (1)

1981 - Debbie Cameron & Tommy Seebach - "Krøller eller ej"- 11th

6. Austria (3)

1995 - Stella Jones - "Die Welt dreht sich verkehrt" - 13th
2000 - The Rounder Girls - "All To You" - 14th
2018 - Cesár Sampson - "Nobody But You"- 3rd

7. United Kingdom (6)

1998 - Melanie Crosdale (Imaani) - "Where Are You" - 2nd
1999 - Louise Rose, Kelli Clark-Sternberg (Precious) - "Say It Again" - 12th
2005 - Javine - "Touch My Fire" - 22nd
2008 - Andy Abraham - "Even If" - 23th
2009 - Jade Ewen - "It's My Time" - 2009 - 5th
2011 - Simon Webbe part of Blue - "I Can" - 11th

8. France (5)

1998 - Marie-Line - "Oú aller?" - 23rd
1990 - Joëlle Ursull - "White and Black Blues" - 2nd
1992 - Jean-Marc Monnerville as Kali - "Monté la riviè" - 8th
2010 - Jessy Kimbamgi (Matador) - "Allez Ola Olé" -  12th
2014 - Patrick Biyik with Twin Twin - "Moustache" - 26th

9. Israel (4)

1999 - Eden - "Happy Birthday" - 5th
2006 - Eddie Butler - "Together We Are One" - 23th
2020 - Eden Alene - "Feker Libi" - Contest cancelled
2021 - Eden Aline - "Set Me Free"  - 17th

10. Norway (2)

1999 - Stig van Eijk - "Living My Life Without You" - 14th
2011 - Stella Mwangi -   "Haba Haba  (Little by little)"  - 17th  

11. Bosnia-Herzegovina (1)

1999 - Dino & Béatrice – "Putnici" -  7th

12. Estonia (1)

2001 - Dave benton & Tanel - "Everybody" - 1st

13. Sweden (4)

2002 - Afro-Dite - "Never let you go" - 8th
2019 - John Lundvik - "Too Late For Love" - 5th
2020 - The Mamas - "Move" -  Contest cancelled
2021 - Tusse (Tousin Chiza) - "Voices" - 14th

14. San Marino (5)

2011 - Senhit (Senhit Zadik Zadik) - "Stand By" - semi-final
2017 - Jimmi Wilson with Valentina Monetta - "Sprit of the Night" - semi-final
2020 - Senhit (Senhit Zadik Zadik) - Contest cancelled
2021 - Senhit (Senhit Zadik Zadik) -  "Adrenalina" - 22nd

15. Ukraine (2)

2012 - Gaitana - "Be My Guest" - 15th  
2023 - Jeffery Kenny part of  Andrii & Jeffery - "TVORCHI" - 

16. Hungary (1)

2014 - András Kállay-Saunders -  "Running"   - 5th  

17. Latvia (1)

2015 - Aminata (Aminata Savadogo) - "Love Injected" - 6th

18. Belarus (1)

2015 - Uzari & Maimuna - "Time" -  (semi-final)

19. Bulgaria (1)

2018 - Trey Campbell, Johnny Manuel (Equinox) - "Bones" - 14th

20. Czech Republic (2)

2020 - Benny Cristo - "Kemama" - Contest cancelled
2021 - Benny Cristo - "Omaga" - (semi-final)

21. Malta (2)

2020 - Destiny Chukunyere - "All my Love " - Contest cancelled
2021 - Destiny Chukunyere - "Je Me Casse" - 7th

22. Belgium (1)

2022 - Jérémie Makiese - "Miss You" - 19th

Links

Editorial: Black lives matter — and so do black artists at Eurovision