Benin’s music draws on deep Vodun and regional traditions while embracing highlife, Afrobeat, funk, and modern African pop, producing sounds with influence far beyond the country.
Benin has played an important role in the African music scene, producing one of the biggest stars to come out of the continent in Angélique Kidjo. Post-independence, the country was home to a vibrant and innovative music scene, where native folk music combined with Ghanaian highlife,French cabaret, American rock, funk and soul, and Congolese rumba. Ignacio Blazio Osho was perhaps the most influential musician of this period, alongside Pedro Gnonnas y sus Panchos, Les Volcans de la Capitale and Picoby Band d'Abomey. Pedro produced the song Feso Jaiye,[1] which became a hit and was performed by many bands at the 2nd All-Africa Games in 1973.
From Wikipedia.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia’s “Music of Benin” article.
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou’s “Se Ba Ho” captures the group’s celebrated fusion of Beninese rhythms with funk, soul, and Afrobeat.
Angélique Kidjo’s “Agolo” brings Beninese language, rhythm, and dance into a vibrant performance by one of Africa’s most internationally recognized artists.