Ivo Niehe, one of Hollands best presenters, surprised us in his TV show “Ivo op zondag”, with an item about Akim Camara. Looking back on his first performance with André in 2004, as a toddler of 3 years old and showing us how he is doing now. Duration of the video: 5 minutes. Dutch subtitles. (Akim is on André’s DVD: The Flying Dutchman, from 2004. Still on sale in André’s webshop: https://shop.andrerieu.com/product-category/dvds/

IVO op Zondag (IVO on Sunday), Dutch TV program. October 4, 2026. Translation: Ineke IVO Niehe: With this new series, we are heading towards our hundredth broadcast—a milestone we felt was a great reason to kick off each episode with a wonderful clip from our own archives. There is one important condition, though: it has to make you smile. And well, that’s a sure thing with Akim Camara. He was the talk of the town for a while thanks to his performance with André Rieu. Initially, it wasn't his musical talent that drew attention; he had prepared something completely different for his introduction. “AR: You did that wonderfully. Let’s do it again.” IVO: It is a unique story. Akim is the son of a Nigerian father and a German mother. He was just two years old when he accompanied his parents to a concert in Berlin. The little boy was so impressed by what he saw there, that he immediately exclaimed: “I want that too—Akim wants a violin, too...” His parents understood. Despite his young age, he started taking lessons. He was accepted into a music school in Berlin. His parents sent a message to Rieu about their three-year-old son’s enthusiasm for Rieu’s music. AR: “I receive an enormous number of letters, emails, and cards from people writing: ‘My little son... he’s a genius, surely!’ But for some reason, this email from Berlin really resonated with us. I sent a cameraman to Berlin, and the very next day, I had the footage. I saw immediately that this was something I had never experienced before. And so, in 2004, the young Akim made his debut in front of 18,000 people at the stadium in Kerkrade. The wonderful thing was seeing how much he enjoyed his success and all the attention. Shortly after that, Akim—along with André—joined us as a guest for a conversation and a performance with the Johann Strauss Orchestra. IVO: Akim, you look good today. New suit? Is it new? How old are you now? AC: Five. IVO: Which city do you live in? AC: Berlin. IVO: Do you know which country you’re in right now? (Whispering: Holland), Yes, the Netherlands. IVO to André: It remains incredible that someone can do that. AR: Yes, absolutely. I felt a sense of responsibility right away. I was plucking him out of obscurity, after all. So, I made sure he got a really good teacher in Berlin. Plus, someone who would focus on the other side of his upbringing—not just the violin; he needed to remain a happy little boy, too. IVO: In 2007, he got to join the orchestra at Radio City Music Hall in New York. He was a sensation there, too. What was remarkable, though, was that he seemed to be enjoying it less. IVO: Akim Camara is now 26 years old. He didn't become a global superstar, but he is still active in music. In addition to his work as a violinist, he is also active as a conductor of both small and large orchestras. It remains something special!

Akim Camara: 2015. 15 years old.

Akim Camara: 2025 25 years old.

Ivo Niehe, presenting his program: Ivo on Sunday, October 4th 2026, for AvroTros. Photos: screenshots.