Alpha Blondy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alpha Blondy
Blondy in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Seydou Koné
Born	(1953-01-01) January 1, 1953 (age 72) Dimbokro, N'Zi Region, Ivory Coast
Genres	Reggae
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1981–2023
Labels	EMI France, VP Records, Wagram Music, Shanachie Records

Alpha Blondy, whose real name is Seydou Koné, was born on January 1, 1953, in Dimbokro, Ivory Coast. He is a famous reggae singer from Ivory Coast. Many of his songs talk about politics and social issues. He sings mostly in his native language, Dyula, as well as French and English. Sometimes, he also sings in other languages like Arabic or Hebrew.

Alpha Blondy's Early Life

Growing Up in Ivory Coast

Seydou Koné was the first of eight children. His grandmother raised him, and he says being "among elders" really shaped him. In 1962, Alpha Blondy moved to Odienné to live with his father. He spent ten years there, going to Sainte Elisabeth High School. He was also part of the student movement in Ivory Coast.

He started a band in high school, but it made him miss too much school. Because of this, he was asked to leave. His parents then sent him to Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, in 1973 to learn English. He stayed there for 13 months before moving to the United States to get even better at English.

Studying in the United States

In 1974, Seydou moved to New York. He studied English at Hunter College and the Columbia University American Language Program. He hoped to become a teacher. In New York, he learned about Rastafari and went to concerts by Jamaican artists like Burning Spear.

After some challenges, he returned to the Ivory Coast. There, he met his childhood friend, Fulgence Kassi, who had become a well-known TV producer. This meeting helped him start his music career. He then chose his stage name, "Alpha Blondy."

Alpha Blondy's Music Journey

After appearing on several TV shows for Fulgence Kassi, Alpha Blondy recorded his first solo album in 1982. It was called Jah Glory. This album became very successful. It also became a symbol of standing up for what's right because of the song "Brigadier Sabari." This song tells about his experience of being arrested and treated badly by the police in Abidjan in the 1980s.

Alpha Blondy became a huge star in Abidjan with his unique African reggae style. Fans even called him "the Bob Marley of Africa." Like Marley, Alpha Blondy's music is spiritual, political, and positive. He even covered Bob Marley's song "War." To share his message with more people, he sang in many languages. These included English, French, Baoulé, and his native language, Dioula. Later, he added new instruments to his reggae, such as the violin and cello.

Becoming Famous Worldwide

Soon, Alpha Blondy's fame reached Europe. After a successful short album called Rasta Poué, he went to Paris in 1984. There, he made his second album, Cocody Rock, with the Pathe Marconi record label. Blondy traveled to Jamaica and recorded the main song of this album with The Wailers, who were Bob Marley's backing band.

Back home in 1985, Blondy recorded Apartheid Is Nazism. The main song called for an end to apartheid, which was a system of racial separation. In 1986, he recorded “Jerusalem” at Tuff Gong studios in Jamaica. He worked again with The Wailers, including the famous Aston "Family Man" Barrett. Blondy wanted to bring people together from different religions. He aimed to promote unity among Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. He found ideas and strength from his knowledge of the Bible, the Quran, and the Torah. That same year, he sang in Hebrew during a concert in Morocco.

He was touring all the time. His new album, Revolution, had a softer, calmer sound. This album used cellos and featured the experienced Ivory Coast singer Aicha Kone. The album also included "Jah Houphouët parle." This was a long speech by Ivory Coast president Félix Houphouët-Boigny with only a very light beat behind it.

Challenges and Comebacks

From 1987 to 1989, Blondy performed many concerts and recorded SOS Guerre Tribale in Abidjan. Blondy promoted this album himself, as he was starting to work less with Pathe Marconi. This album was not a big success, but it did not stop Blondy. In 1991, he returned to Europe for a concert tour. He also recorded his famous album Masada with the help of music legends like Bocana Maiga and UK reggae producer Dennis Bovell. The album, with its hit song "Rendez Vous," was a huge success. Blondy later received his first Gold Disc in Paris.

In early 1993, after a tiring world tour, Blondy faced some health challenges. He needed time to recover. But as he got better, he recorded the album Dieu ("God"). On this album, he sounds more spiritual and religious. Songs like "Heal Me" talk about his illness and recovery.

Blondy continued his treatment, but on December 10, 1994, he performed at a festival. This festival was held in memory of President Houphouet. Later, he made his European comeback with a powerful concert at Le Zenith in Paris. In 1996, Blondy released a collection of his hit songs. He then went back to the studio to record the album Grand Bassam Zion. He sang in six languages on this album: Malinke, Arabic, French, English, Ashanti, and Wolof.

After two more years in Paris, Blondy returned to his home country in 1998. He brought a new album called The Prophet. He felt his record label focused too much on the international market. So, he decided to create his own label. Since then, he has recorded many albums and singles. One single was "Yitzhak Rabin", in memory of the Israeli prime minister who was killed in 1995. This was followed by a tough tour of Europe. Another single was "Journaliste en Danger" from his 2000 album Elohim.

Alpha Blondy celebrated 20 years as a recording artist with his 2002 album MERCI. This album featured Ophelie Winter and Saian Supa Crew. It earned him a 2003 Grammy Award nomination for "Best Reggae Album." However, because of the political situation in Ivory Coast, he could not go to the award ceremony in New York City. The Grammy Awards allowed him to send someone to accept the honor for him, which was very unusual.

In 2005, Akwaba was released. His album Jah Victory came out in July 2007. It featured famous musicians like Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. It also included Tyrone Downie, who used to play with Bob Marley and the Wailers. "Victory" celebrates the peace agreement reached in the Ivory Coast in March 2007.

One of Blondy's most famous and successful songs is "Sébé Allah Y'é."

On July 19, 2009, Blondy performed in New York's Central Park. A large crowd of people from Africa, Jamaica, and America came to see him.

On June 13, 2010, many people were allowed into a Blondy concert in the Ivory Coast. This concert celebrated peace and unity in the country. The concert area became too crowded, and at least 20 people were hurt. Sadly, two people died.

On June 27, 2010, Alpha Blondy was the last performer at Parkpop in The Hague, Netherlands. He took the place of Snoop Dogg and Beenie Man.

Blondy has also inspired other African reggae artists, such as Ismaël Isaac.

In November 2014, singer/songwriter Jonathan Wilson released an album called Slide By. It included a song called "Alpha Blondy Was King."

In January 2015, the Roots Reggae Library featured a special edition on Alpha Blondy. It included explanations and translations of his songs in all languages, including Dioula.

In February 2023, Blondy performed for his home crowd at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan. This was for the closing ceremony of the 2023 African Cup of Nations. Blondy sang two songs: "Sebe Allah Ye" and his well-known song, "Cocody Rock."

Alpha Blondy's Faith

Alpha Blondy was born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother. His grandmother raised him and "taught him to love everyone." Blondy respects all religions and finds spiritual meaning in them. You can hear this in songs like “God is One” or “Jerusalem.” In “Jerusalem,” he sang for unity among all religions back in 1986.

Alpha Blondy's Humanitarian Work

In 2005, Alpha Blondy was named a United Nations Ambassador of Peace for Côte d'Ivoire. He worked very hard to find a peaceful solution for his country. Ivory Coast was divided politically and physically after an attempted coup in 2001. By March 2007, a peace agreement was signed and put into action. This was thanks to the hard work of many people, including Alpha Blondy.

Alpha now helps even more through his new foundation, Alpha Blondy Jah Glory Foundation. This foundation is not for profit, not run by the government, and not political. It works to end social unfairness and poverty that passes down through families. It does this by giving people the tools they need to help themselves. He strongly believes in helping those who are poor (Jah Glory) and that children should not be harmed.

The Foundation aims to create and run local programs in villages. One example is the Women's Self-Sufficiency Micro Loan Program. This program teaches women who care for many orphans how to start and manage their own businesses. This helps them better provide for their families. Other projects include the Tafari-Genesis Retreat Camp for Children in Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. The foundation especially hopes to bring joy and hope to children affected by civil wars, former child soldiers, and those with serious illnesses like sickle-cell anemia, malaria, and asthma.

Alpha Blondy continues to work for peace and unity around the world through his music. For example, his song “Who Are You” with Ophélie Winter speaks out against antipersonnel mines. He has also taken part in many humanitarian and charity concerts. One such concert was in Senegal in March 2006, aimed at getting rid of Malaria in Africa. He appeared there with many other famous people. He also continues this work in Ivory Coast at his yearly free concert at Bassam beach, called “festa.”

In 2014, he sang On n'oublie pas (written by Serge Bilé) with several artists and well-known people. These included Jocelyne Béroard, Harry Roselmack, and Admiral T. This song pays tribute to the 152 victims from Martinique of the plane crash on August 16, 2005. It helps remember this event and helps the AVCA, an association for the victims, raise money.

Alpha Blondy's Best Known Songs

His first big hit was Brigadier Sabari. Here are some of his well-known songs:

• "Sebe Allah Y'e"
• "Jah Glory" – where he sings against poverty
• "Apartheid is Nazism"
• "Brigadier Sabari" – a funny song about police brutality
• "Cocody Rock" – a song that has become an Alpha Blondy anthem
• "Guerre Civile" – about civil war
• "Jerusalem" – a call for peace. The song starts with a prayer in Hebrew.
• "Journalistes en danger" – about the killing of Norbert Zongo
• "Politiqui" – about changes between civilian and military governments
• "Yitzhak Rabin" – written in 1995, after the killing of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and dedicated to him.
• "Sweet Fanta Diallo"
• "Téré"
• "Blesser"
• "Rasta Poué"
• "Ethiopia De Eli Boy Hag"
• "Masada"
• "Come Back Jesus"
• "Peace in Liberia" – about wanting peace in all Muslim countries affected by war
• "Multipartisme (Médiocratie)"
• "Rendez-Vous"
• "Jah Houphouet" In 1988, many American skiers learned about Alpha Blondy's music. His song from the 1985 album "Apartheid is Nazism" was used in the soundtrack of Greg Stump’s popular ski movie, Blizzard of Aahhh's.

Alpha Blondy's Albums

Studio albums

• Jah Glory! (1982)
• Cocody Rock!!! (1984)
• Apartheid Is Nazism (1985)
• Jérusalem (1986)
• Revolution (1987)
• The Prophets (1989)
• S.O.S Guerre Tribale (1991)
• Masada (1992)
• Dieu (1994)
• Grand Bassam Zion Rock (1996)
• Yitzhak Rabin (1998)
• Elohim (2000)
• Merci (2002)
• Jah Victory (2007)
• Vision (2011)
• Mystic Power (2013)
• Positive Energy (2015)
• Human Race (2018)

Images for kids

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  A robot for kids

See also

In Spanish: Alpha Blondy para niños