Today, our World Tour stops in the West African Republic of Benin. Known worldwide for their artists and craftsman and for being home to one of Africa's top museums, this country also has an interesting, diverse music scene. Here's our brief info dump to as we get ready to jump in:
-Capital City: Porto-Novo
-Official Languages: French
-Government: Unitary presidential republic, currently under the leadership of President Patrice Talon and Vice President Mariam Chabi Talata
-Originally colonized by the French, the land was called Dahomey, and the Republic of Dahomey was established in December 1958, declared their independence from France in August 1960, and was renamed the People's Republic of Benin in November 1975 following a government coup d'état
-Land Area: 44,310 square miles (100th largest in the world, with 0.4% of its area being water)
-Population: 13,754,688 estimated as of 2022 (74th most populous in the world)
-Religion: 52.2% Christian, 24.6% Islamic, 17.9% traditional faiths, 5.2% no religious affiliation, 0.1% other religious affiliation
-Drive on the right side of the road
Beninese music is hugely influential in Africa, both in terms of creativity and star power. Traditional native folk music is just as prevalent as pop, rock, funk, and soul, and they all coexist and blend together to create some really cool sounds. Some really special, fun music has come out of Benin for years and years, so naturally I had a blast exploring this culture preparing for this post. Let's see what we've got in store this week!
Agolo by Angélique Kidjo (written by A. Kidjo, J. Hebrail)
Angélique Kidjo is a Beninese singer, songwriter, and actress and arguably one of the most popular and well-known African musicians today. Born in 1960 in Cotonou (about 21 miles southwest of Porto-Novo), she is a proficient vocalist in genres such as Afropop, Afrobeat, reggae, world music, world fusion, worldbeat, jazz, gospel, and Latin music. She's been performing since age six, but her career really took off back in 1982 and has been going strong in the four decades since. Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards and was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World back in 2021. She sings in Fon, French, Yorùbá, Gen, and English and has released 18 studio albums since 1981. Agolo (which translates to Cup in English) was originally featured on her 1994 album Ayé. This song was really fun; Kidjo has a great voice, and the whole production of the song was high energy and positive. It's a very danceable song with a great beat and a timeless sound that won't keep this song stuck in the '90s. An English translation of the lyrics from the original Yorùbá (a West African people and language found mainly in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) is below.
I just saw the face of the god/Of love and tenderness passing my window/At this moment don't despair, let's think/Of the love that mother earth offers us/If we are generous, she will make our future prosperous/Love, life, mother earth/Love, life, Africa motherland/Enjoy the benefits of mother earth
Segala by Gangbé Brass Band (composer unknown)
The Gangbé Brass Band is a Beninese musical project that was formed in 1994. For the past three decades, the ten piece ensemble has successfully blended together the African genres of jùjú and Vodou with the more western sounds of jazz and big band music. Consisting of trumpet, trombone, sousaphone, various West African percussion instruments, and vocals, Gangbé has released five studio albums since 1995. Segala can be found on the 2013 compilation album Rough Guide to Voodoo. I really liked this song a lot, and really enjoyed the blending of genres into one seamless piece. These musicians sound like they're having an absolute blast playing together, and the energy they create is palpable through every measure of the piece. I couldn't find a reliable English translation of the original lyrics, but do not miss out on this one because it's a really great time.
Yiri Yiri Boum by Gnonnas Pedro (written by G. Kouassivi)
Gnonnan Kouassivi, known best by his stage name Gnonnas Pedro, was a Beninese singer and musician. Born around 1943 in Lokossa (about 89 miles northwest of Porto-Novo), he was best known as the lead singer of the band Africando from 1995 to his death due to prostate cancer in 2004. He also headed the group Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band and was a member of the Orchestra Poly-rhythmo de Cotonou during his twenty-eight year career. Pedro primarily focused on the highlife and juju genres and helped to pioneer the modern Agbadja genre, and he sang in the Mina, Adja, Yorúbà, French, English, and Spanish languages. As a solo artist, he released six studio albums between 1975 and 2003. Yiri Yiri Boum (which translates to Spinning Boom in English) can be found on the 2011 compilation album Belle Epoque Volume 2 (Africando Cotonou Benin). This was another fun find, with a great beat from start to finish. Pedro has a very pleasant voice to listen to, and it's very easy to lose yourself in this song even if you don't immediately understand the words. I couldn't find a reliable English translation of the original lyrics, a mix of what seems to my untrained eye and ear to be Spanish, Yorúbà, and possibly something else as well, but for sure give this one a listen.
L'Aube nouvelle by Jean-Pierre Venaissin (written by G. Dagnon)
L'Aube nouvelle, or The Dawn of a New Day in English, is the national anthem of the People's Republic of Benin. With music and lyrics by Father Gilbert Jean Dagnon, it has been the national anthem since the country declared its independence from France in 1960 and became the Republic of Dahomey. Fifteen years later, when renamed as Benin, the anthem was kept the same except to change references from Dahomey to Benin. Jean-Pierre Venaissin's piano cover of the song is short, sweet, and to the point, with the primary verse and chorus appearing as they would if the song were being performed for an event. An English translation of the original French lyrics is below.
Children of Benin, arise/The resounding cry of freedom is heard at the first light of dawn/Children of Benin, arise/Formerly, at her call, our ancestors with strength, courage, ardour, and full of joy/Knew how to engage in mighty battles, but at the price of blood/Builders of present, you too, join forces/Each day for the task stronger in unity/Build without ceasing for posterity
Wangnigni by Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou (written by V. Ahéhéhinnou)
The Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou is a Beninese musical project that was formed in 1968 in Cotonou. Founded by band leader Mélomé Clément, they ended up disbanding in the late 1980s after the deaths of multiple bandmates but reformed in 2009. Named by The Guardian as one of West Africa's best dance bands, the Orchestre typically plays a mix of funk, Afrobeat, psychedelia, jazz, and local voodoo music. While they released a lot of music prior to their hiatus, they've either released or rereleased 5 studio albums since 2007. Wangnigni can be found on the Orchestre's 2016 album Madjafalao. I thought this song was great; it has almost a Latin swing feel to it mixed in with that Afrobeat sound. The horn section is a lot of fun, and this is definitely another group that sounds like they thoroughly enjoy making music together. I couldn't find a reliable English translation of the original lyrics, but get ready to dance when you check this one out.
I hope you enjoyed checking out this rich musical culture as much as I did. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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