Transsexual artist Titica takes Angola by storm
By Louise Redvers Luanda

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17628726

She is bold, she is bright, she is beautiful and she is taking Angola by storm. Not bad for a transsexual in a Catholic African country where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by hard labour.

Born in Luanda as Teca Miguel Garcia, singer and dancer Titica adopted her female persona four years ago following a breast enhancement operation in Brazil.
Titica Titica adopted her female persona four years ago

Now, at 25, Titica is the new face of Angola's unique urban rap-techno fusion music style known as "kuduro".

Angola's Transsexual Hip Hop Queen Transcends Boundaries

Titica, who says, "I've been stoned, I've been beaten," has emerged as a powerful musical force in the African nation, where homosexuality is illegal.

By Naeesa Aziz
Posted: 04/16/2012 03:23 PM EDT

http://www.bet.com/news/global/2012/04/16/angola-s-transsexual-pop-star-transcends-boundaries.html

Kuduro, the new face of Angola's rap-techno music style, is getting attention for more than catchy lyrics and innovative dance moves. Angola's latest music sensation, Titica, is transsexual and in a country where homosexuality is illegal, her soaring popularity is forcing the Southern African nation to rethink some of its conventions on sexuality.

"Thanks to God, I am very happy, it has taken a while to get here and involved a lot of sacrifice but thanks to God, everything is going well for me," she told the BBC. "I've been stoned, I've been beaten, and there is a lot of prejudice against me, a lot of people show that. There is a lot of taboo."

Despite the taboo, the 25-year-old is one of the most popular artists in Angola. She was named best kuduro artist of 2011, was invited to perform at an annual Divas concert attended by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, where she was named a diva and recently held a live performance at a club in New York City.