PARIS—Nigerian singer-songwriter Asa scooped France's prestigious Constantin award for new musical talent Monday night for her eponymous album blending folk, soul and reggae.

Born in France but brought up in Lagos, Asa, which means falcon in her native Yoruba, was voted best fresh talent of 10 singers or groups by a jury of 19 music industry specialists at the Olympia concert-hall in Paris.

Often likened to Tracy Chapman or fellow-Nigerian Ayo, her first single was "Fire on the Mountain," a song about ecological disaster.

"I want to sing for the world, not just be seen as an African singer," she told Agence France-Presse in a recent interview.