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

Seydou Koné (born January 1, 1953), known as Alpha Blondy, is a famous Ivorian reggae singer. He is known around the world for his music. Many of his songs talk about politics and social issues. He sings in many languages, including his native Dyula, French, and English. Sometimes he also uses Arabic, Hebrew, or Jamaican Patois.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Ivory Coast

Seydou Koné was the first of eight children. His grandmother raised him, and he learned a lot from older people. This experience greatly influenced his future career. In 1962, he moved to Odienné to live with his father. He spent ten years there and went to Sainte Elisabeth High School.

He was part of the student movement in Ivory Coast. He even started a band in high school. However, this made him miss school, and he was eventually expelled. In 1973, his parents sent him to Monrovia, Liberia, to study English. After 13 months, he moved to the United States to improve his English even more.

College in the United States

In 1974, Seydou moved to New York. He studied English at Hunter College and Columbia University. He wanted to become a teacher. While in New York, he learned about Rastafari culture. He also went to concerts by Jamaican artists like Burning Spear. After facing some challenges, he returned to the Ivory Coast. There, he met his childhood friend, Fulgence Kassi, who was a TV producer. This meeting helped him start his music career, and he became known as "Alpha Blondy."

Alpha Blondy's Music Journey

After appearing on several TV shows for Fulgence Kassi, Alpha Blondy released his first album in 1982. It was called Jah Glory. This album became very popular. One song, "Brigadier Sabari," became a symbol of standing up for what's right. It told the story of his own experience with police in Abidjan.

Alpha Blondy became a huge star in Abidjan. His reggae music had a special African touch. 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 Dioula. He also added new instruments to his reggae, like the violin and cello.

Spreading His Music to Europe

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

Back home in 1985, Blondy recorded Apartheid Is Nazism. The title song called for an end to apartheid, which was a system of racial separation. In 1986, he recorded "Jerusalem" in Jamaica at Tuff Gong studios. He worked with The Wailers again, including the famous Aston "Family Man" Barrett. Blondy wanted to promote peace and understanding among different religions. He used ideas from the Bible, the Quran, and the Torah. That same year, he sang in Hebrew during a concert in Morocco.

He was constantly touring during this time. His new album, Revolution, had a softer sound. It included cellos and featured Ivorian singer Aicha Kone. The album also had "Jah Houphouët parle," a long speech by Ivory Coast president Félix Houphouët-Boigny with a simple beat.

Continued Success and Challenges

From 1987 to 1989, Blondy performed many concerts and recorded SOS Guerre Tribale in Abidjan. He promoted this album himself. In 1991, he returned to Europe for a tour. He also recorded his popular album Masada with help from musicians like Bocana Maiga and producer Dennis Bovell. This 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 long world tour, Blondy needed help for his health. But as he recovered, he recorded the album Dieu ("God"). On this album, he sang about his illness and recovery in songs like "Heal Me."

Blondy continued his health treatment. On December 10, 1994, he performed at a festival honoring President Houphouet. Later, he made a big comeback in Europe with a concert at Le Zenith in Paris. In 1996, Blondy released a collection of his hits. He then recorded the album Grand Bassam Zion, singing in six languages: Malinke, Arabic, French, English, Ashanti, and Wolof.

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

Alpha Blondy celebrated 20 years as a recording artist in 2002 with his album MERCI. This album featured Ophelie Winter and Saian Supa Crew. It even earned him a 2003 Grammy Award nomination for "Best Reggae Album." Because of the political situation in Ivory Coast, he could not attend the ceremony. The Grammy Awards allowed him to send someone in his place, 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, and Tyrone Downie from Bob Marley's band. "Victory" celebrated the peace agreement in Ivory Coast in March 2007.

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

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

On June 13, 2010, a large crowd gathered for a Blondy concert in the Ivory Coast. It was a celebration of peace and unity. Sadly, the crowd was too big, and at least 20 people were hurt, with two deaths.

On June 27, 2010, Alpha Blondy was the final performer at Parkpop in The Hague, Netherlands. He took the place of other artists.

Blondy has also inspired other African reggae artists, like 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 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 anthem, "Cocody Rock."

Beliefs and Faith

Alpha Blondy's father was Muslim, and his mother was Christian. His grandmother raised him and taught him to love everyone. Blondy respects all religions. His songs like "God is One" and "Jerusalem" show his spiritual side. In "Jerusalem," he sang for unity among all religions in 1986.

Helping Others

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

Alpha Blondy now helps even more through his foundation, Alpha Blondy Jah Glory Foundation. This charity works to end social unfairness and poverty. It helps people learn skills to help themselves. He strongly believes in helping the poor and protecting children. The Foundation creates programs at the village level. For example, the Women's Self-Sufficiency Micro Loan Program teaches women how to start their own businesses. This helps them better care for their families. Other projects include the Tafari-Genesis Retreat Camp for Children in Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. The foundation especially wants to bring joy and hope to children affected by wars. This includes former child soldiers and those with serious illnesses like sickle-cell anemia, malaria, and asthma.

Alpha Blondy continues to fight for peace and unity worldwide through his music. For example, his song "Who Are You" with Ophélie Winter speaks out against antipersonnel mines. He has also performed at many charity concerts. In March 2006, he appeared in Senegal to help end Malaria in Africa. 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" (We don't forget). He sang this song with other artists and famous people. It was a tribute to the 152 victims of the plane crash on August 16, 2005. The song helped raise money for the AVCA, an association for the victims' families.

Popular 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 song about police unfairness
• "Cocody Rock" – a very famous Alpha Blondy song
• "Guerre Civile" – about civil war
• "Jerusalem" – a call for peace, starting with a prayer in Hebrew
• "Journalistes en danger" – about the killing of Norbert Zongo
• "Politiqui" – about changes in government
• "Yitzhak Rabin" – written in 1995, dedicated to the Israeli Prime Minister after he was assassinated
• "Sweet Fanta Diallo"
• "Téré"
• "Blesser"
• "Rasta Poué"
• "Ethiopia De Eli Boy Hag"
• "Masada"
• "Come Back Jesus"
• "Peace in Liberia" – about wanting peace in war-torn Muslim countries
• "Multipartisme (Médiocratie)"
• "Rendez-Vous"
• "Jah Houphouet"

In 1988, many American skiers discovered Alpha Blondy's music. His song from the 1985 album "Apartheid is Nazism" was in the movie Blizzard of Aahhh'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)

See also

In Spanish: Alpha Blondy para niños