Dobet Gnahoré

photo dg portrait 2

Dobet Gnahoré, a singer, dancer and percussionist from Ivory Coast, inherited the force of the “Bété“ tradition from her father, Boni Gnahoré, a master percussionist who plays with the Abidjan-based Ki-Yi Mbock Company, directed by Werewere Liking. It was within this Ivory Coast-based company that Dobet met French guitarist Colin Laroche de Féline, who went there to immerse himself in African melodies and rhythms, after being introduced to them by Toroma Sika in France. Having spent some time in the well-known Tché Tché dance company, Dobet decided with Colin (in 1999) to form a duo, Ano Neko, which means “Let’s create together“ in Bété language. The duo toured widely in France (1999-2000) where they settled temporarily following the instability that unfortunately struck the Ivory Coast.
When they returned to Abidjan in 2001, they took part in MASA Off (festival) where they were the centre of attention and, while they were there, they recorded eight songs under the supervision of the late Marcellin Yacé, who was killed during the first day of rioting in the autumn of 2002. They then decided to come back to France, at least until peace and stability reigned in their beautiful country once again.
In 2003, their artistic project refocused on Dobet Gnahoré and Belgian record label Contre-Jour produced her first album entitled “Ano Neko“, making the link with Dobet and Colin’s story. The secon album "Na Afriki" was released in 2007 and Dobet toured around the world. In 2010 she won a Grammy Award, along with American singer India Arie who wrote lyrics on Dobet's song "Palea", and released her third album "Djekpa la you".

From Mandingue melodies to Congolese rumba, from Ivory Coast Ziglibiti to Cameroon Bikoutsi, from Ghanian High-Life to Zulu choirs, their compositions, carried along with jazz-like sounds, are varied and colourful. Dobet sings in a range of African languages including Bété, Fon, Baoule, Lingala, Malinke, Mina or Bambara, thereby reproducing the Pan-African tradition of the Ki Yi Mbock group. On stage, her voice, her charisma and her huge presence, the result of several years theatrical and choreographic work, has great audience appeal.

www.dobetgnahore.com

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