Do you know that not all Korean idols and members of K-pop groups are Koreans by nationality?

While most K-pop idols and group members are Koreans, some of them are from other countries ranging from China to Japan, Thailand, America, and even Africa!

Yes, you heard right, Africa! I know this might come as a shock because of the stereotypes held against black people and other standards. However, some Africans have relentlessly worked hard to break this stereotype and made a name and face for themselves in the Korean entertainment industry through K-pop.

Here are some K-pop idols who are black and of African descent.

Samba Fatou Diouf (Fatou)

Unlike other idols on this list, Fatou is a fully African girl and the first African K-pop idol. She was born in Senegal in 1995 and is currently 29 years old. (Repping us all, right?)

Fatou is a singer, rapper, and dancer and at the moment she is the leader of the girl group BLACKSWAN (a group where no member is Korean)

If there’s a reason I am docking my cap for this amazing idol, it’s because of her determination to thrive in the K-pop industry, despite her ethnicity and color. A win for us all, I must say!

Coco Avenue: Jenny Lyric and Jenna Rose

Coco Avenue was a duo group that included ladies of African-American descent ‘Jenny Lyric and Jenna Rose.’

While they were both born in America, the Oldest member Jenny Lyrics was born in 1991 and the youngest member Jenna Rose was born in 1999.

Although the group only lasted for four years (2013-2017) before they disbanded, I will say it was nice that they actually existed at all.

Alexandra Reid Varley (Alexandra Reid)

Alexandra Reid is also an African-American who is a former member of the girl group BP Rania (Currently called BLACKSWAN)

She was born in America in 1989, became a member of BP Rania in 2015, and departed from the group in 2017.

Lee Michelle

Lee Michelle is an African-American lady who has made Korean her base. Although she was born in 1991 to a Korean mother, her father was an African-American.

Lee Michelle trained to debut with a girl group, but the group disbanded before they could debut. However, Michelle made her solo debut with a single titled ‘Without You’ in 2013 and has continued to release more songs since then.

Making this piece makes me so excited as I hope to see more Africans become K-pop idols.

In the meantime, which of these idols have you heard about and what’s your take on them?