Alpha Blondy

Alpha Blondy born Seydou Kone in Dimbokoro, Côte d'Ivoire, in 1953 is an Ivorian[?] reggae singer. He is considered as a major star in West Africa. He studied English at Hunter College in New York, and later in the Columbia University American Language Program. He sings in mainly Dioula, French, English but also sometimes in Arabic, or Hebrew. His lyrics denotes strong political attitude and humor. He invented the word of "democrature" (it traduced as "democratorship") to qualify some African governments.

First success "Brigadier Sabary".

Some representaive songs :

• "Apartheid is Nazism"
• "Brigadier Sabary" satirical lyrics about police brutallity.
• "Guerre Civile" about civil war
• "Jerusalem" about Israel contains some lyrics in Hebrew
• "Journalistes en danger" about the assassination of Norbert Zongo
• "Politiqui" about civilian / military governement alternance
• "Ythzak Rabin"