<text>  CNNWrapped up in a long brightly-colored scarf, which does little to contain her free-flowing curly hair, Nneka sits back quietly as she tries to bring to mind her very first memory of music. I was a kid, the Nigerian singer finally says, her thoughts traveling back to Warri, the Niger Delta city where she grew up. While I was doing my domestic work in the house, sweeping, waking up at 5am in the morning, there was this bird singing -- and I never forgot the melody, she continues, breaking a warm smile. Funny wise, like 25 years later I was in Lagos and I heard the same melody -- it was amazing! Nnekas first musical recollection might be firmly rooted in her birthplace, but the award-winning singers career was destined to begin thousands of miles away from home -- the daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Nneka moved to Hamburg at the age of 19 to study anthropology. Whilst attending university, she also started exploring her musical talents, and soon found herself performing in various clubs opening up for top reggae and hip-hop names. In 2005, she released Victim of Truth, a much-lauded debut that fused soulful beats, tasty hip-hop-and reflective ballads with politically-charged lyrics and black consciousness. Since then, she went on to enjoy further chart success, tour extensively and collaborate with global stars like Lenny Kravitz and Damian Marley. And now, the soulful singer is back with a brand new, self-released album -- My Fairy Tales is a formidable collection of rich afrobeat grooves, reggae-tinged beats and uplifting rhythms that reaffirm her place as one of the continents most exciting -- and relevant -- artists. CNNs African Voices caught up with Nneka in London to talk about music, memories and the current situation in Nigeria -- as well as present her with the questions you sent via the AskNneka and CNNAfrica hashtags. CNN: In the past, youve dealt with issues ranging from the environment and politics, to religion and love -- what are the themes that youre emphasizing at this moment? Nneka: What is happening in Africa at present concerns me a lot. Boko Haram has always been an issue obviously for the past five, six years -- funny wise, theres a track in the album called Pray For You which I recorded when not too many people knew what was going with Boko Haram in the West. Im talking about the problems and possible solutions, and what are the reasons for the problems that we have. We as Nigerians, were not united, that has always been the issue... thats our problem, tribalism, and what belongs to whom. I also talk about children and the future, bringing children into this world... Everyones living in a cage and then you bring your child into that kind of society, where your child is forced to live in fear. People are afraid to express themselves politically, and even in their home -- I remember the way we grew up, I didnt look my father in the eye until I was 22; you call your father Sir, Sir, Sir -- apparently its a form of respect, OK, but respect should not be mistaken with fear. I was afraid and thats the thing, thats the colonial mentality: we mistake fear for respect. He Goodluck Jonathan says he wants to tackle Boko Haram, obviously every Nigerian is asking why now, he could had done it a long time ago...but Im not good at the whole blaming game, I dont want to blame anybody but I pray that he comes up with a good idea for us if he is an honest and genuine guy. But I know that Fela Kuti would definitely not be cool with him, Seun Kuti is not cool with him, and many other musicians who are very outspoken are not cool with him. CNN: What is the power of music and how can it influence things to bring positive change? Nneka: Music is very powerful, music is big; music is even more powerful than politics at present. Beyonce would definitely draw more crowd than Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan if she was going to hold a speech -- if Beyonce is going to talk about Boko Haram, many people are going to listen, and if she had something to tell Nigerians about love or whatever, many people are going to listen. CNN: How do you see the political and security situation now in Nigeria? Nneka: All I can say is that we do need proper leadership. Yes, thats just easier said than done, but we also need ourselves to take more things into our own hands -- so if we want change, we have to show that we want change, peacefully -- I love Malcolm X but Id rather go for Martin Luther King -- peacefully. And be part of it, not just blame our leaders and making sure that you, yourself, contribute to the change that you want to see. YOUR QUESTIONS . Nneka: My personal life always inspires me, in the first place, and then I try to expand it to the world. I try not to go too personal so that people can have their own interpretation of the song and also relate to it in their own special way. Nneka: I like The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, I like Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, I like the Bible. Right now Im reading The Humans by Matt Haig. Read! Just read, educate yourself! Nneka: The way forward is going to be easier said than done, but tribalism is not they key. What we need is unity and to appreciate each other as Nigerians, as Africans, regardless of tribe and regardless of religion -- imposing your religion on other people is only going to create war and turmoil, there has to be another way. Nneka: Being on tour for like five months; I mean you get used to the life, but its hard when youre coming back home and then realizing that people move on when youre not around. Nneka: It is successfully already, thats why everybody is in it. Thats all I can say to that, its flourishing and they know its flourishing and thats why theyre all there -- the Chinese, the Americans, the Europeans and the rest of them. 