Senaya is a Montreal-based soul singer-songwriter from Senegal. She was born in Dakar, Senegal to a Guadaloupean mother and Sengalese father. She was studying in Nancy, France when she made the decision to move to Montreal. She arrived in 1996 and co-founded the band Sunroots as the lead singer. Her multilingualism allowed her to sing in multiple languages. With Sunroots, Senaya honed her musical skills becoming a composer, guitarist and poet alongside being a singer.

In 2000, Senaya left Sunroots to start a solo career. She was selected to present a collection of her original music at the Granby International Song Festival in 2003, where she was named Laureate of the Year. The following year, she was awarded the Coup de Coeur Prize at the Festival Vues Sur la Relève for her solo performances.

Senaya released her first album, Garde la Tête Haute in 2005, consisting of 13 songs blending soul, rock, pop, zouk, R&B, funk, and sung in Creole and French. Garde la Tête Haute earned her a Juno nomination for Francophone Album of the Year. Soon after, she established her own management and production company, Vues Sur Scènes, with her older sister. Her latest record, Soûlkreôl Vol. 1. Roots//Racines, was released in February 2023.

Senaya is a committed humanitarian and makes it her mission to inspire hope and joy through her culturally rich and eclectic music.

Awards

• Laureate of the Year, Grandby International Song Festival (2003)
• Coup de Coeur Prize at the Festival Vues Sur la Relève (2004)