Dobet Gnahore

Dobet Gnahore won the BBC Radio World Music Award for Newcomer in 2006. Hailing from the Ivory Coast, Dobet is now settled in Marseille.


"Côte Ivoire used to be known as a magnet for recording artists from all over West Africa. Many came to use the modern studios in the capital Abidjan, but ironically, the country has never produced much in the way of distinctively local vibes, apart from reggae stars Alpha Blondy and Tiken Jah Fakoly. These days it's the vicious and ongoing north/south conflict that garners most headlines. The present situation arose as a result of a coup in 1999 ­ the same year that 23-year-old singer and songwriter Dobet Gnahoré left her homeland and settled in Marseille. She has been based there ever since.

The thriving multi-cultural music scene of that vibrant French port city provided her with opportunities that were no longer on offer back home, but she has not forgotten her roots. She may not have felt safe enough to go back to Côte Ivoire itself yet, but she has performed in many of the African countries she draws inspiration from in her music, visiting Congo, Gabon, Chad and Equatorial Guinea on a recent tour."

Jon Lusk

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