Riana Nel


Riana Nel is a Namibian singer and songwriter. After growing up in Windhoek she moved to Pretoria, South Africa, to start her career.

Professional career

Her songs have been described as including elements of "pop & country". She is known for the singer who can make up a song with just a few words on the spot. She had firmly placed her roots in gospel music on release of the albums Oopmond, The Cure, Breathe and Someone with Skin and has won several awards including the Crescendo Award in 2000, a SAMA, Huisgenoot tempo's and Ghoema awards. The album Die Moeite Werd appealed more to the secular market and has reached platinum status and continues to top South African music charts. Nel has also starred in the Afrikaans movie, N Saak Van Geloof alongside her co-star Robbie Wessels, the well acclaimed South African singer-songwriter/comedian.
Nel is a well acclaimed songwriter having written songs for Juanita Du Plessis, Bobby Van Jaarsveld, Lianie May, Touch of Class and world-renowned Amira Willighagen. Nel has shared a stage with her sister Nianell, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Lianie May, Lira and many more. She recorded duets with André Swiegers, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Retief Burger and Steve Hofmeyr.
She has performed in South Africa, Namibia, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Nashville in the U.S., Russia, Mozambique and Australia.
Nel was a coach on The Voice South Africa 2019.

Personal life

Nel's sister, Nianell, is also an acclaimed singer and songwriter. Both sisters have performed together on several occasions. Nel is a professed Christian. She married Cornel de Beer in 2013 and had their first child Tristian in February 2016 and their second, Sebastiaan in September 2017,and their third, Estian in March 2020

Discography

Studio albums