Deutsch
Man kann die Sängerin, Tänzerin und Perkussionistin Dobet Gnahoré durchaus als eine der
Superstars des afrikanischen Kontinents bezeichnen. Sie wuchs in einer Künstlerfamilie auf
und kann auf eine lange Karriere zurückblicken, in der sie 2010 einen Grammy Award
gewann und über 800 Konzerte weltweit spielte. Den Corona Lockdown hat sie produktiv
genutzt und ihr sechstes Album „Couleur“ in Abidjan aufgenommen. Entstanden ist wieder
einmal ein tanzbares Werk, in dem sich die verschiedenen Sounds des urbanen Westafrikas
wiederfinden. Live überzeugt sie nicht nur durch ihr energiegeladene Programm und ihre
unverwechselbare Stimme, sondern vor allem auch durch ihre legendären Tanzeinlagen.
Dobet Gnahoré, an African superstar and 2010 GRAMMY winner, is well-known for her jawdropping dance moves, powerful stage presence and richly emotional vocal style. With her
new album Couleur (2021), Gnahoré breaks with her past acoustic styles and delves into her
country’s modern Afropop sounds. The album marks Gnahoré’s welcome return to the
Cumbancha label, who put out her album Na Afriki way back in 2007.
Superstars des afrikanischen Kontinents bezeichnen. Sie wuchs in einer Künstlerfamilie auf
und kann auf eine lange Karriere zurückblicken, in der sie 2010 einen Grammy Award
gewann und über 800 Konzerte weltweit spielte. Den Corona Lockdown hat sie produktiv
genutzt und ihr sechstes Album „Couleur“ in Abidjan aufgenommen. Entstanden ist wieder
einmal ein tanzbares Werk, in dem sich die verschiedenen Sounds des urbanen Westafrikas
wiederfinden. Live überzeugt sie nicht nur durch ihr energiegeladene Programm und ihre
unverwechselbare Stimme, sondern vor allem auch durch ihre legendären Tanzeinlagen.
Dobet Gnahoré, an African superstar and 2010 GRAMMY winner, is well-known for her jawdropping dance moves, powerful stage presence and richly emotional vocal style. With her
new album Couleur (2021), Gnahoré breaks with her past acoustic styles and delves into her
country’s modern Afropop sounds. The album marks Gnahoré’s welcome return to the
Cumbancha label, who put out her album Na Afriki way back in 2007.
Englisch
While Africa has blessed the world with many recognized female artists, Dobet Gnahoré has
proven herself to be a truly special talent. Hailing from Côte d’Ivoire, Dobet is a virtuosic
singer, dancer, percussionist, and songwriter who has taken the modern Afropop sounds of
her country in exciting new directions. A 2010 GRAMMY winner, Dobet Gnahoré is well –
known for her jaw – dropping dance moves, powerful stage presence and richly emotional
vocal style. With her sixth album Couleur, released on the Cumbancha label in 2021, Gnahoré
breaks with her past acoustic styles to create a fiery album filled with danceable grooves,
electronic beats, nimble electric guitar lines and catchy melodic hooks. With her latest album,
Dobet explores the concept of freedom: The freedom to blend the urban energy of modern
Africa with its vibrant ancestral rhythms; The freedom to sing in multiple languages, from the
diverse indigenous languages of her native land as well as in French and English, to better
convey her optimistic message and reach broader audiences; The freedom to pay tribute to
the women of today and tomorrow, to use her words and image to empower a new
generation of da ring, strong and independent African women. Couleur was recorded in
Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire during the first Covid 19 lockdown under the artistic direction of the
young beatmaker and producer Tam Sir. Dobet wrote the lyrics and composed the songs with
input from Tam Sir and her longtime collaborator Colin La roche de Féline. ‚I want to be able
to dance to my music,‘ asserts Dobet, and with Couleur that mission is definitely
accomplished. Upbeat, dynamic, and filled with unstoppable grooves, Couleur is a fun and
catchy album exploding with hope and positivity. Dobets father Boni Gnahoré is a master
percussionist and artist who co – founded the legendary pan – African performance ensemble
and artistic collective Ki – Yi M’bock. Growing up in this creative setting was a utopian artistic
experience for Dobet and a rigorous training ground that provided her with the skills in music,
dance, theater, fashion and poetry that serve as her foundation to this day. Dobet signed with
the Belgian label and booking agency Contre Jour in 2003, with which she produced four
albums and toured around the world. Dobets fifth album Musiki was released in 2017 by the
French label La Café. After years of touring, Dobet maintains a strong work ethic, confessing,
‘When I’m not traveling, I get a little depressed’. In 2010, Dobet earned further renown when
her collaboration with American singer India. Arie on the song ‚Pearls‘ earned them a
GRAMMY win for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. That same year, the UK’s Guardian
newspaper crowned her with the ‚best performance‘ accolade at the prestigious WOMAD
festival. Her most recent album, Couleur, draws its energy from the creative fire and passion
that Dobet brings to all her work. The lyrics are simple and direct, with universal themes such
as the power of women, words of motivation and encouragement when your spirits are low,
cries for redemption when you don’t live up to your ideals and struggles with love and
jealousy. Couleur solidifies Dobet Gnahorés position as one of Africa’s brightest stars and most
striking talents.
proven herself to be a truly special talent. Hailing from Côte d’Ivoire, Dobet is a virtuosic
singer, dancer, percussionist, and songwriter who has taken the modern Afropop sounds of
her country in exciting new directions. A 2010 GRAMMY winner, Dobet Gnahoré is well –
known for her jaw – dropping dance moves, powerful stage presence and richly emotional
vocal style. With her sixth album Couleur, released on the Cumbancha label in 2021, Gnahoré
breaks with her past acoustic styles to create a fiery album filled with danceable grooves,
electronic beats, nimble electric guitar lines and catchy melodic hooks. With her latest album,
Dobet explores the concept of freedom: The freedom to blend the urban energy of modern
Africa with its vibrant ancestral rhythms; The freedom to sing in multiple languages, from the
diverse indigenous languages of her native land as well as in French and English, to better
convey her optimistic message and reach broader audiences; The freedom to pay tribute to
the women of today and tomorrow, to use her words and image to empower a new
generation of da ring, strong and independent African women. Couleur was recorded in
Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire during the first Covid 19 lockdown under the artistic direction of the
young beatmaker and producer Tam Sir. Dobet wrote the lyrics and composed the songs with
input from Tam Sir and her longtime collaborator Colin La roche de Féline. ‚I want to be able
to dance to my music,‘ asserts Dobet, and with Couleur that mission is definitely
accomplished. Upbeat, dynamic, and filled with unstoppable grooves, Couleur is a fun and
catchy album exploding with hope and positivity. Dobets father Boni Gnahoré is a master
percussionist and artist who co – founded the legendary pan – African performance ensemble
and artistic collective Ki – Yi M’bock. Growing up in this creative setting was a utopian artistic
experience for Dobet and a rigorous training ground that provided her with the skills in music,
dance, theater, fashion and poetry that serve as her foundation to this day. Dobet signed with
the Belgian label and booking agency Contre Jour in 2003, with which she produced four
albums and toured around the world. Dobets fifth album Musiki was released in 2017 by the
French label La Café. After years of touring, Dobet maintains a strong work ethic, confessing,
‘When I’m not traveling, I get a little depressed’. In 2010, Dobet earned further renown when
her collaboration with American singer India. Arie on the song ‚Pearls‘ earned them a
GRAMMY win for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. That same year, the UK’s Guardian
newspaper crowned her with the ‚best performance‘ accolade at the prestigious WOMAD
festival. Her most recent album, Couleur, draws its energy from the creative fire and passion
that Dobet brings to all her work. The lyrics are simple and direct, with universal themes such
as the power of women, words of motivation and encouragement when your spirits are low,
cries for redemption when you don’t live up to your ideals and struggles with love and
jealousy. Couleur solidifies Dobet Gnahorés position as one of Africa’s brightest stars and most
striking talents.
