Les Patrons have been attacking Abidjan’s clubs and airwaves with a slew of infectious zouglou hits. Atito, Triste Destin, Conseils all display the Patrons’ mixture of traditional rhythms with hip hop and R & B aesthetics. Familiar sounds for anyone who’s spent more than 5 minutes in Côte d’Ivoire in recent years.
Zouglou came about in the 1980s, it first evolved around student protests and has become a social voice, much like hip hop, it’s american cousin. It is usually sang in nouchi, the Ivorian French slang spoken in Abidjan. With coupé décalé, zouglou has become one of the dominant styles in Ivory Coast. And you’ may have already heard this huge zouglou hit:
It was tough! Charlie Parker is Les Patrons’ manager, and he’s a busy man. We eventually found time to meet and share ideas. We agreed to work les Patrons’ 2 first albums through Akwaaba!
Les Patrons are insanely huge in Abidjan, you hear their music at all the maquis, here’s one of their biggest hits:
Today I met with Ivorian stars DJ Menza and Kedjevara, what a trip. Menza flaunted a skin tight white outfit, Kedjevara was slightly more subtle, and both were down with Akwaaba, so we’ll be releasing some of their coupé décalé hits for the rest of the world to enjoy and dance!
Kedjevara and Benjamin Lebrave finalizing their deal in Yopougon (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)
It’s Friday night, Abidjan is steaming, and we’re headed to the Rue Princesse. Numerous ‘maquis’ (outdoor bars) line up one of West Africa’s most notorious party spots. The place is booming with coupé décalé and zouglou beats, the voices of Kedjevara, Menza, Les Patrons or DJ Bonano mingling with shouts, laughter, cars honking and street vendors vending! There’s usually no dancefloor at most maquis’, when people feel like dancing, they get up and dance right where they are, standing or at their table.
A Maquis in Yopougon’s Rue Princesse (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)
