This Hijabi Hip-Hop Artist From Malaysia Just Went Viral For The Best Reason
The 19-year-old goes by the name Bunga
Chances are, you may have come across Malaysian singer Noor Ayu Fatini Mohd Bakhari, who goes by the name Bunga, on your Instagram scrolls recently. The young artist is is one of the only known rappers who wears a hijab and baju kurung (a traditional Malay dress) during her performances, which has garnered a lot of attention from the Muslim world.
A video of Bunga performing in her home state of Perak, Malaysia went viral back in November and Bunga has been gaining momentum ever since.
Her popularity soared earlier this year when she was invited to rap at 16 Baris, a popular YouTube show known for highlighting upcoming artists from Southeast Asia.
Alongside Mona Haydar and Neelam Hakeem, Bunga is one of the very few female hijabi rap artists on the music scene. “I’ve realized that there are more hijabis who want to rap,” she said in an interview with AP News. “I think that’s a good thing because you shouldn’t worry about what others say.”
As for the future, Bunga adds, “I want to make a lot of songs. I want to go on tours. I want to release albums. I want to go worldwide.”
Watch this space.