History of music in Benin

The Benin has played a significant role in the Africa music scene which produces one of the biggest stars to come out of the continent in Angelique Kidjo. During the post- independence, the country was home to play and innovate their music scene, where the native traditional music is combined with Ghanaian highlife, French cabaret, American rock, funk and soul, and Congolese rumba. The Ignacio Blazio Osho was possibly the most influential musician of this time, alongside with Pedro Gnonnasy y sus Panschos, Les Volcans and Picoby Band d’ Abomey. Perdo who produced the song Feso Jaiye that became a hit track and was performed by several bands at the 2^nd All-Africa Game in 1973, in the year 1972, however, the Kerekou government came to power and instituted restriction and other measures that reserved musical expression.

 

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After, Kerekou, which is the first musician to become a star, was Nel Oliver, who debuted in France in 1976. His distinctively pattern took elements from all over Africa and United States that created Afro-aklala-funk. The last few centuries before the 20^th century saw the numerous developments which include the rise of reggae (that came frofm Jamaica by Yaya Yaovi) and the hip pop (which is well-known by Ardiess Posse) as well a new wave of musicians like Cella Stella, africando, Ambroise Coffi Akoha, Bluecky d’Almeida and Angelique Kidjo.

Kerekou supported the indigenous traditional music, some of the musician like Tohon Stan, adapted the traditional patterns for mainstream audience at home and abroad which include the tchinkoume, funeral music played using the water drummers was adapted into the tchink system music.