R&B singer Tamia is in South Africa once more, bringing a universal vision of love, of life.

She first garnered attention as a teenager singing "You Put a Move on My Heart" on Quincy Jones's 1994 album Q's Jook Joint, moving on to an ever-growing solo career.

During this time, Tamia was nominated for four Grammy's: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for You've Put A Move On My Heart; Best R&B Performance by Duo Or Group with Vocal for "Slow Jams", which she performed with Babyface; Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for her work with Brandy, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan on the single "Missing You"; and for "Spend My Life With You", her duet with Eric Benet.

As a child, the Canadian-born Tamia studied voice and acting, as well as singing in her church.

She went on to get several awards, including the 1993 YTV Youth Achievement Award and the 1994 Steve Ross Music Scholarship as an Honor Youth Delegate at the American Academy of Achievement's 33rd Annual Salute to Excellence.

Tamia has performed before a host of dignataries including Queen Elizabeth, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and South African President Nelson Mandela during his visit to the UK.

She has also been to South Africa before, in 2005.

Describing her 2005 tour on her website, Tamia says: "There's nothing like being on stage and having the crowd singing every word of your song. After 10 years as a recording artist, the experience was still very touching. You never know how your music touches people. This experience rejuvenated me. It energized me to get this new album done."

Her new album Between Friends, created with Shep Crawford and producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, has been described as "an R&B guide to the beauty and dynamics of relationships".

Music is an integral part of all Tamia does. As she explains on her website: "I'm always going to be that little 6-year-old singing into her brush with her mom yelling, 'Tamia, please stop!'

"Music is just a part of me-everything that I do, every step that I take. I am still thankful and amazed, because I still see myself as that little girl with a brush."

But, her life is much more. As well as being a wife and mother, Tamia is also involved with charities like Prevent Child Abuse America; Habitat For Humanity; and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) awareness in Canada.