Big Nelo Biography: Songs, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Ethnicity, Album, Collaborations, Age

Big Nelo is an Angolan singer, songwriter, and music producer who helped pioneer hip-hop and urban music in Angola before expanding into R&B, kizomba, and afro-urban styles.

Rising to prominence as a founding member of the influential rap group SSP (South Side Posse) in the 1990s, he later launched a successful solo career and collaborated with C4 Pedro in the popular duo B4, extending his reach throughout the Lusophone world.

Profile

• Full name: Emanuel de Carvalho Nguenohame
• Stage name: Big Nelo
• Date of birth: 26 November 1970
• Age: 55 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Moçâmedes (Namibe), Angola
• Nationality: Angolan
• Profession: Singer, Songwriter, Rap Artist, Record Producer, Entrepreneur
• Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
• Weight: 82 kg (approx.)
• Eye color: Dark Brown
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Married
• Children: Two children
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Christianity (Catholic background)
• Ethnicity: Ovimbundu descent
• Net worth: $2.5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Emanuel de Carvalho Nguenohame, now 54 years old, was born on 26 November 1970 in Moçâmedes (Namibe), Angola. Big Nelo grew up during a transformative period in the nation’s music and cultural identity. He discovered his passion for music as a teenager, heavily influenced by American hip-hop, R&B, and traditional Angolan rhythms.

Personal Life

Big Nelo maintains a private personal life, preferring to keep his family out of public scrutiny. He is married and has two children, though he rarely shares details about them on social media.

Career

Big Nelo began his professional journey as a founding member of SSP (South Side Posse), alongside Paul G, Jeff Brown, and Kudy. The group became one of Angola’s earliest and most successful hip-hop collectives, blending rap with local genres and love-centered lyrics. Their albums, including 99% de Amor, Odisseia, and Alfa, revolutionized Angolan music in the 1990s.

After SSP disbanded, Big Nelo pursued a solo career that solidified his influence in urban music. His solo albums such as Momento da Trajectória (2005) and A Minha Maneira (2011) received critical praise for blending lyrical maturity with Afro-R&B rhythms.

In 2013, he teamed up with C4 Pedro to form the duo B4, releasing the acclaimed album Los Compadres, which became an international success across Portuguese-speaking countries. Big Nelo later founded Karga Eventos, a production company organizing major concerts and cultural festivals in Angola, providing platforms for young artists.

Today, he is considered a cultural icon and mentor, often called “A Lenda do Hip-Hop Angolano” (“The Legend of Angolan Hip-Hop”).

Awards and Recognition

• Career Achievement Award – Rádio Nacional de Angola (RNA), 2014
• CPLP Music Recognition – Portuguese-Speaking Artists Honor, 2016
• Top Radio Luanda Awards Nominee, multiple years
• Named among the Top 10 Most Influential Angolan Musicians (Music in Africa, 2022)

Net Worth

Big Nelo’s net worth is estimated at approximately $2.5 million USD.
His income sources include: music royalties and digital streaming revenue, event production through Karga Eventos, brand partnerships and live performance fees etc.

Social Media

• Instagram: @bignelokarga
• YouTube: Big Nelo

Discography

• Momento da Trajectória (2005)
• Karga (2008)
• A Minha Maneira (2011)
• Los Compadres (2013, with C4 Pedro as B4)
• O Legado da Lenda (2016)
• Ombaka (2022, single)