Summary:
Nigerian singer Asa says she is "proud to be Nigerian" and hopes other Africans feel proud of their country.

Full article:
(CNN) -- She may be a fully-fledged pop star with a growing global appeal but Nigerian singer, Asa, is determined to remain true to her African roots. The 29 year old artist initially found fame on her home continent thanks to her soulful musical melodies, which have since proved popular with audiences in Europe and beyond. She has since opened live shows for the musical superstars such as Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Akon and John Legend. Ghana's Bob Marley spreads message of brotherhood . But despite sampling the sweet taste of global recognition, it is Nigeria and Africa that remain the singer's main sources of inspiration. "I'm proud to be Nigerian and I also hope other Nigerians feel proud that they have a great country, she adds" "People have preconceptions of Nigeria ... so for other Nigerians we need to know that we cannot hide, we need to defend, and how do we defend, we need to be good at whatever we do," she adds. Asa is just the latest in a long line of African artists to make it big on the world stage. Singer Nneka tells world of love and injustice in Nigeria . Traditional acts such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Salif Keita have blazed a trail in years gone by, while up-and-coming hip hop artists such as K'naan and 2Face Idibia have taken on the mantle in recent times. In the gallery above, CNN takes a look at some of the continent's most famous and much-loved musical exports.