Anja Bowe

Anja Bowe was born on November 10, 1989, in Freeport, Grand Bahama, to Minerva Kemp and Phillip Bowe. Raised in a musically inclined family, Anja's passion for music developed early. Her mother, Minerva Kemp-McIntosh, is renowned as the songbird of Grand Bahama, and her uncle, the late Johnny Kemp Jr., achieved international fame with the hit song “Just Got Paid” in the late 1980s. Music is deeply embedded in Anja’s family history, as her grandfather, Johnny Kemp Sr., was a well-known local entertainer in the 1940s whose musical legacy has been passed down through generations.

 

Anja's involvement in the performing arts began at the age of four, where she sang and danced at church services and small community events alongside her family. She performed in numerous concerts, dance recitals, and traveled to several family islands with a dance group led by Mr. Ike Williams. By age six, Anja was the only singer/dancer in the group, marking the beginning of her love for performance. She later enrolled in dance classes at The Bahamas Dance Theatre, where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, and Broadway dance. Anja was also accepted into the New Wave Dance Ensemble, performing in various islands, including Abaco, Andros, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, at the Annual BET Music Festival for three years.

 

After high school, Anja moved to New Providence to attend the College of The Bahamas, where she pursued a degree in Business Administration Management. However, her passion for music remained a driving force in her life. In her first semester, she auditioned for the Bahamas National Youth Choir and, despite initial nerves, was accepted. Anja became a member of the choir for eight years, traveling extensively with the group to destinations such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, and many more, including international tours to Austria, Germany, Italy, and Canada. Anja was featured as the primary soloist throughout her time with the choir, winning prestigious awards such as silver and gold medals at the World Choir Games.

 

In addition to her academic achievements, Anja further honed her musical craft after her years with the choir. She became a soloist, specializing in jazz ballads, and performed with jazz bands such as Vice Versa and Traffic. She graced prominent venues such as Nirvana Beach, the Hilton, Lyford Cay, and Old Fort Bay. Through these experiences, Anja expanded her repertoire and developed a deep appreciation for diverse genres of music. In 2016, she launched the successful "LIT Summer Series," a live performance musical series that became a networking hub for musicians and a platform for emerging talent. The series ran for three years, until the passing of her mother in 2019.

 

Anja's passion for performance continued as she collaborated with Sip Productions, a theatre company led by Phillip Burrows and Nicolette Bethel. She performed in several productions, including Once on This Island (2017), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2019), and Der Real Ting (2018), where she played lead roles and earned critical acclaim. Notably, during the opening night of the Der Real Ting encore performance, Anja received the news of her mother’s passing but persevered to deliver a stellar performance that earned a standing ovation.

 

Continuing to build her musical career, Anja worked as a solo act and partnered with Kenton Burrows and his band, The Expressions Band. She also performed in a recurring role at the Broadway show at Melia Resort under the direction of Miquelle Swann and Swann Talent Entertainment. Her career took a new direction when she joined the Spank Band under the leadership of Ira Storr, where she was introduced to the Bahamian music genre of Rake and Scrape. She toured locally and internationally, immersing herself in Bahamian culture and music. Her growth in the industry led her to become the female lead singer of The Higher-Level Band, where she continues to thrive, learning from the talented musicians around her.

 

Today, Anja is the Cultural Officer for Fashion at the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture, and she continues to perform with The Higher-Level Band, contributing to the vibrant cultural scene of The Bahamas.