Gaitana

Gaita-Lurdes Klaverivna Essami (; born 24 March 1979), known professionally as Gaitana , is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter. Essami's style of pop music has been described as containing elements of jazz, funk, soul, and folk. She represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, performing the song "Be My Guest" and placing 15th in the final.

Gaitana is the third Eurovision contestant of African origin ever to be born in the former USSR, after Lithuanian singer and guitarist Viktoras "Victor" Diawara of LT United and Estonian singer Daana Ots of Suntribe.

Early life Essami was born in Kyiv to a Ukrainian mother, Tatiana Petrova, and a father, Klaver Essami, from the Republic of the Congo. When she was an infant, the family left Ukraine and moved to her father's hometown of Brazzaville. They lived in the Republic of the Congo for five years, until Essami and her mother returned to Ukraine in 1985. Due to living most of her early childhood in the Republic of the Congo, Essami could only speak French and Lingala upon returning to Ukraine, although she later became fluent in Ukrainian and Russian as well. Essami's estranged father remained in Brazzaville, where he owned a transportation business.

In Kyiv, Essami attended a music school, where she learned how to play the saxophone. She later pursued an education in economics. Since her youth, Essami was a decorated athlete who was a champion table tennis player. In 1991, Essami competed in the children's music competition Fantasy Lotto Nadiya, where she placed third. Following the competition, Essami began singing in a children's music ensemble led by Volodymyr Bystryakov. In the Soviet Union, R&B music was not widespread, so Essami was introduced to foreign songs while attending underground music venues as a teenager. Essami went on to win the competition, placing first with the professional jury and second with the Ukrainian public. Following her win, Essami was the victim of racist comments by members of the far-right in Ukraine. Yuriy Syrotyuk, a high-ranking member of the nationalist Svoboda political party, stated that Essami's selection as the Ukrainian representative would hinder Ukraine's ability to join the European Union, as she is portraying the country as if they are "of a different continent". Essami responded to the comments by stating that Ukraine was her beloved motherland, and that non-white Ukrainians should not feel like they have to leave the country to be accepted.

Discography Albums 2003 - О тебе (Gaitana and Unity) - About You 2005 - Слідом за тобою - Following You 2007 - Капли дождя - Raindrops 2008 - Kукaбaррa - Kukabarra 2008 - Тайные желания - Secret Desires 2010 - Только сегодня - Only Today 2012 - Viva, Europe! 2014 – Voodooman 2024 - Сонце В Тобі - The Sun In You

Singles 2006 - "Двa вікна" - Two Windows 2007 - "Шaленій" - Go Crazy 2009 - "Нещодавно" (Gaitana and Stas Konkin) - Lately 2012 - "Be My Guest" 2013 - "Aliens" 2014 - "Galaxy" 2020 - "A Paper Plane" (By Aryan King) 2024 - "Don't Stop the Music 2024 - "I've Got All" 2025 - "Can't Look Back"

Awards Showbiz award Best European Star (special award) Ukrainian Music Awards Best female singer 2008 Best album 2008