Traditional music and dance
As in many parts of Africa, traditional music and dance play an essential role in the daily lives of the Beninese. Although born of the various reigns of Dahomey, these traditions have, so to speak, never aged, and are still practiced today by the 46 ethnic groups that populate Benin. One of the most common traditional aesthetics is by far the zinli. Originally a funerary rhythm native to the Plateau, this style, played with a large drum, a gong and clapping hands, became popular music in the hands of the legendary artist Alèpkéhanhou. Considered the "king of zinli ", he transcends genres and today remains one of the country's most important (and prolific) musical personalities. We should also mention Yedénou Adjahoui, considered by many to be a precursor of zinli, although he is best remembered as a great innovator of massè gohoun, a modern rhythm inspired by the festive traditional massé. Dossou Letriki is the other great master of massè gohoun.
Also in the Plateau region,akohoun, a traditional rhythm specific to the Adjranou community, is performed on happy occasions such as weddings and anniversaries, accompanied by essentially male dances in which the protagonists clap their hands over their chests. Still on the Plateau, kpanouhoun is a festive rhythm reserved exclusively for women, characterized by the sound of drums and plates.
In the Collines region - and particularly in Savalou - the tchinkoumè can be heard. A cousin of zinli, from which it undoubtedly draws its inspiration, this rhythm of funerary origin is played on gota, an emptied gourd, bell gongs, maracas and two inverted gourds. The genre was first popularized by Alokpon in the 1970s, before being modernized in the 1980s by Stan Tohon and his " Tchink System ". It was this formula that enabled the latter to become one of the country's most emblematic figures. It's highly recommended to listen to his hit Yallow to fully grasp the feverish power of the Tchink System. Today, Gbézé is considered the guardian of tchinkoumè.
Less well known outside Benin, it would be unfair not to mention musical and choreographic traditions such as guélédé, a masked Yoruba ceremony held at the end of the harvest, tipenti, a masculine dance, also agricultural, from the Otamari ethnic group, tèkè also known as the "stick dance", kunya, a traditional dance of the Waama people performed exclusively by women and topless, or the toba celebration dance.
Gbessi Zolawadji, a native of the Ouidah region, is one of the best-known traditional artists. His upbeat songs, inspired by the agbadja rhythm, are frequently broadcast on Beninese radio stations. Another agbadja innovator, Gnonnas Pedro, is best known as a salsa singer. The dance of the same name is particularly energetic, with strong shoulder movements. The last national figure, Sagbohan Danialou, is equally inspired by traditional Vodoun rhythms and jazz. An emblematic one-man band, he was invited to perform at the Musée du Quai Branly in October 2021, when France returned 26 works of art to Benin. On the traditional music front, Kiri Kanta is another example.
To save this intangible heritage, and keep its impact on society intact, national institutions such as the Conservatoire de Danses Ceremonielles et Royales d'Abomey (CDCRA) protect and promote it. The CDCRA's students perform from time to time around the country, a good opportunity to get a panorama of Beninese traditions on stage.
In Porto Novo, Beninese music concerts are frequently organized at Place Bayol and on the esplanade of the Assembly, as well as at the Ouadada Cultural Center in the Tokpota district.
Popular music
The first musicians to gain recognition on the national scene emerged in the 1960s. Inspired by tradition, they achieved a certain renown by giving a modern, international reinterpretation to Beninese aesthetics. This is one of the reasons why Angélique Kidjo, possibly the best-known Beninese artist in the world, has been so successful. Born in Ouidah, she now lives in the United States, but has not forgotten her origins. A blend of traditional music and colors from all over the world, her entire body of work seems a tribute to the music that cradled her Beninese childhood. Never short of inspiration, Angélique Kidjo released her 19th album in 20212. The Beninese queen is joined by Anna Teko, who made her name singing Angélique Kidjo covers before making a name for herself. A great national gospel voice, Anna Teko has become one of the benchmarks of the Beninese musical landscape in a career spanning some thirty years.
Another legend: nicknamed the "Georges Brassens of Dahomey", Gustave Gbénou Vikey alias GG Vikey was not only a singer, but also a great lyricist who wrote an impressive number of songs. These songs, composed in the 1950s and 1960s, still shine today for their astonishing relevance. Another important figure in Beninese music, Nel Oliver is perhaps the most flamboyant. He's even the most American, as he often sings in English and his music flirts with genres such as funk and soul. A hybrid aesthetic somewhere between tradition - like Yoruba akpala - and Afro-funk, jazz, rock or reggae. And let's not forget to mention the fabulous Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. Created in 1966, inspired by funk, the group went on to become one of the most popular in French-speaking Africa, composing over 500 songs and releasing some 50 albums in which they forged their unique style of soukous and Afro-Latin music. After falling into oblivion in the 1980s, a series of compilations brought them back into the limelight in the 2000s, sending them to stages around the world. While their success remains confined to a niche audience, fans of the Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou can now be found the world over.
Current music
A stable country with a dynamic cultural policy, Benin boasts an almost teeming young scene, with a particular penchant for jazz. For example, a number of big names such as guitarist Lionel Loueké (collaborator of Avishai Cohen and Herbie Hancock) and pianist Tchangodei - well known to music lovers in Lyon, where he opened the Bec de Jazz - are from Benin. Jazz can also be found in a number of popular groups, such as Fâ, which mixes the genre with traditional African rhythms, the Gangbé Brass Band, which even includes voodoo rhythms, and the Fanfare Eyo'nlé, which plays music steeped in the rhythms of southeastern Benin. The latest sensation, Star Feminine Band, has made a big splash with the French press (perhaps because the group is signed to Born Bad, a French label). Comprising seven girls aged between 10 and 17, Star Feminine Band forges links between rock, pop, highlife, Congolese rumba and Beninese sato, while seeking to promote gender equality in Benin - and the world. The future of Beninese music is feminine. On the urban music front, Vano Baby (R'n'B and Afrobeat), rappers and slammers Sergent Markus, Kemtaan, Blaaz and Diamant Noir are just a few examples.
In Cotonou, the Lieu unique, the Yes papa and the Institut français are all great places to see concerts.
