Meiway, the musical genius of Cote d’Ivoire
By Michaela Bewa On March 17, 1962 in Cote d’Ivoire’s coastal city of Grand-Bassam, West Africa, a boy was born in the Ehui family. His parents named him Frederick Desire. …
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Africa helping America: introducing the Timbuktu Educational Foundation
“Africa can make a difference, especially to our sisters and brothers here in the Diaspora, and everywhere there are children of African descent and others who want to know about …
One-on-one with Monique Seka, the Queen of Afro-zouk
By Francine Ayessou-Komla With her third album, Okaman, released in 1995 that sold a whopping one million copies, Ivorian entertainer Monique Seka saw her music career blossom all of a sudden. Okaman, …
Love and relationship in Savan’ Alla’s songs
By Paul Yao Love is probably the most common theme in songs the world over. Savan’ Alla, an entertainer from Cote d’Ivoire with a 20-year career who now lives in …
Africans mourn Michael Jackson
BY SOUMANOU SALIFOU (with reporting by Jules Maoussi) It was almost midnight in Benin, West Africa, where I happened to be on June 25, 2009. I was in a cyber café …
Vyckos Ekondo: Blending Tradition and Modernity
One of the most prestigious European festival this past summer provided the opportunity for a highly-talented African musician, Vyckos Ekondo, to showcase his country’s musical heritage to an European audience …
Lagbaja, the entertainer without a face
BY JOHN MUKENDI It was one of the most exciting moments of my two-week stay this month in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire’s largest city. A local friend invited me to a … Read More
One-on-one with Ivorian entertainer Savan’ Alla
BY PAUL YAO “Men have nothing left in their heart. They have it all down low,” Ivorian entertainer Savan’ Alla sang recently in a jam-packed West African nightclub while her …
Rediscovering African music legend Manu Dibango
By Soumanou Salifou It was a gorgeous Saturday evening in a cozy, very elegant theater on a West African beach. Red carpet, first-class decorations… nothing, really, like the rest of …
African American entertainer La Trice’s first experience in Africa
By Soumanou Salifou Members of the African American community who attended the inaugural ceremony of Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo in May 1999 were not all elected officials, high-level government officials …