Don Kikas Biography: Songs, Wife, Net Worth, Awards, Religion, Albums, Height, Age, Ethnicity

Don Kikas is an Angolan singer, songwriter, and performer celebrated for his silky vocals and mastery of kizomba, semba, and zouk. Rising to prominence in the 1990s, he became one of the defining voices of modern Angolan music, fusing traditional rhythms with contemporary romantic and urban styles.

His 1999 album “Xeque Mate” became a landmark project in Lusophone African music, earning him multiple awards and international acclaim.

Profile

• Full name: Emílio Camilo da Costa
• Nickname: Don Kikas
• Date of birth: 5 January 1974
• Age: 51 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Sumbe, Cuanza Sul Province, Angola
• Nationality: Angolan
• Profession: Singer, Songwriter, Performer, Producer
• Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
• Weight: 75 kg (approx.)
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: João Camilo da Costa and Teresa Maria Lopes da Costa
• Siblings: One sister
• Spouse: Married
• Children: Two children
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Christianity (Roman Catholic)
• Ethnicity: Kimbundu (from the central Angolan Bantu ethnic group)
• Net worth: $1.3 million

Early Life and Education

Emílio Camilo da Costa was born on 5 January 1974 in Sumbe, the capital of Angola’s Cuanza Sul province, and raised in a musically inclined family. His father, João Camilo da Costa, worked in education, while his mother, Teresa Maria Lopes da Costa, was an active member of the local church choir.

When he was still a child, his family relocated to Brazil, where he was exposed to samba, MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), and other Afro-Brazilian genres.

As a teenager, he moved to Portugal, where he began performing in nightclubs and community events while developing his craft as a songwriter and stage performer. He started performing professionally around age 18.

Personal Life

Don Kikas is married and a father of two, but he has largely kept his family out of the spotlight. Known for his private lifestyle, he occasionally references the importance of family in his songs, particularly in pieces like “Na Lama do Amor” and “Esperança Moribunda.”

Career

Don Kikas began his professional career in the mid-1990s, becoming one of the youngest singers to popularize modern kizomba and semba internationally. His debut album, “Sexy Baby” (1995), introduced his romantic vocal style to Angolan and Portuguese audiences.

His second album, “Pura Sedução” (1997), went silver in Portugal, solidifying his presence in Lusophone markets. The 1999 release “Xeque Mate” marked his artistic breakthrough — a collection of songs that combined Angolan roots with Caribbean-influenced zouk and sensual R&B elements. The album earned gold certification and the title Album of the Year in Angola.

Throughout the 2000s, he continued releasing critically acclaimed albums such as “Raio X” (2003), which delved into introspective songwriting, and “Viagem” (2006), a double album exploring Angola’s cultural diversity.

His collaborations with artists such as Matias Damásio, Bonga, Anselmo Ralph, and Lura helped bridge the generational gap between classic and contemporary Angolan sounds.

In 2011, he released “Regresso à Base”, a project marking a return to his musical roots. After a period of relative quiet, Don Kikas made a strong comeback with “Livre” (2022) — his first studio album in over a decade — featuring collaborations with younger producers and artists from Angola, Portugal, and Cape Verde.

Awards

• Music of the Year (Angola) — “Esperança Moribunda” (1997)
• Album of the Year (Angola) — Xeque Mate (1999)
• Kizomba of the Year (Angola) — “Na Lama do Amor” (2000)
• Voice of the Year (Angola) — 2000
• Career Achievement Award — Angola Music Awards (2018)
• Cultural Merit Recognition — Ministry of Culture, Angola (2022)

Net Worth

Don Kikas’s estimated net worth is $1.3 million USD. His wealth is derived from: Album sales and digital royalties from streaming platforms, international concerts and tours, brand partnerships etc.

Social Media

• Instagram: @donkikasoficial
• Twitter (X): @donkikas
• TikTok: @donkikas_music
• YouTube: Don Kikas Official

Filmography

• Don Kikas Live in Luanda (Concert Film, 2004)
• Festikizomba Angola Special (TV Concert, 2012)
• Kizomba Night Lisbon (Documentary Feature, 2020)

Discography

• Sexy Baby (1995)
• Pura Sedução (1997)
• Xeque Mate (1999)
• Raio X (2003)
• Viagem (2006)
• Regresso à Base (2011)
• Livre (2022)

Books

• Xeque Mate: Histórias e Canções de Amor” (2023)