Nkechi Ka Egenamba is the real name of Ninja, the rapper and lead vocalist associated with the British indie band The Go! Team. She is known for combining rapping, chanting, singing, energetic dancing, and highly improvised live performances.
Ninja became part of The Go! Team’s public identity after founder Ian Parton created the group’s early studio recordings. The band’s live performances developed a different character from those recordings, with Ninja’s vocals and stage presence adding a spontaneous, athletic dimension. She became especially prominent during the group’s rise in the mid-2000s.
The Go! Team’s debut album, Thunder, Lightning, Strike, was released in 2004 and helped establish the group’s colorful blend of samples, cheerleading-style percussion, hip-hop, indie rock, and pop. Ninja appeared prominently in the band’s live era and subsequent releases, including Proof of Youth and Rolling Blackouts.
Ninja has also worked outside the band, contributing vocals and songwriting to recordings by artists including Simian Mobile Disco, Rinôçérôse, and Cut Chemist. Her birth name is sometimes written with slightly different capitalization, but Ninja is the established performing name.