Aaliyah

Birth Name:

Aaliyah Dana Haughton

Birth Place:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

Date of Birth:

January 16, 1979(1979-01-16)

What Race or Ethnicity:

African American with distant Native American ancestry

The American R&B singer was of African American descent. This was confirmed in an interview with Emil Wilbekin, the editor-in-chief of Vibe Magazine, who followed Aaliyah’s incredible career. Her name in Swahili means “Highest, Most Exalted, The Best”.

It was written in a biography called Aaliyah Remembered by Sutherland, 2005 that Aaliyah is partly of Native American ancestry.

Source:

1. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/COMMUNITY/08/27/welbekin.cnna/index.html
2. Sutherland, William (2005). Aaliyah Remembered. Trafford Publishing.

Celebrities sharing similar heritage:

1. Alicia Keys
2. Nia Long
3. Prince
4. Chilli
5. Keyshia Cole
6. Rosario Dawson
7. Ciara
8. Kid Sister
9. Pete Wentz
10. Tina Turner
11. Tawny Cypress
12. Angelique Bates
13. André 3000
14. Parys Sylver
15. Cuba Gooding, Jr.