Gnonnas Pedro facts for kids
Gnonnas Pedro was a famous singer and musician from Lokossa, a town in Benin, West Africa. His full name was Gnonnan Sossou Pierre Kouassivi. He became well-known in Benin and other countries starting in the 1960s.
From 1995 until he passed away in 2004, Gnonnas Pedro was the main singer for a popular music group called Africando.
Pedro was a talented artist. He could sing, write songs, play instruments, and dance! He loved many kinds of music, like highlife and juju.
Early Music and Style
Gnonnas Pedro started his own music groups. First, he led a band called Pedro y Sus Panchos. Later, he changed the name to Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band. After that, he joined a very famous and long-lasting band called Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou.
Pedro was known for taking the traditional Agbadja music style from his home region and making it new and modern. This new style was called Modern Agbadja. He was also amazing because he could sing in many different languages. These included Mina, Adja, Yoruba, French, English, and Spanish.
One of his most famous songs was "Feso Jaiye." This song became a big hit! Many bands performed it at the 2nd All-Africa Games in 1973.
Passing Away
Gnonnas Pedro passed away on August 12, 2004. He was 61 years old. He died from prostate cancer in a hospital in Cotonou, Benin.
Music Albums
Gnonnas Pedro released many albums during his career, both as a solo artist and with the group Africando.
Solo Albums
These are some of the albums Gnonnas Pedro released on his own:
- Dadjes: The Band Of Africa (1975)
- Gnonnas Pedro (Disco Stock, 1979)
- El Cochechivo (Ledoux, 1981)
- Agbadja (Syllart, 1999)
- Irma koi (Syllart, 1999)
- The best of Gnonnas Pedro (2003)
Albums with Africando
Gnonnas Pedro was the lead singer for Africando on these albums:
- Gombo Salsa (Stern's Africa STCD1071, 1996)
- Baloba (Stern's Africa STCD1082, 1998)
- Mandali (Stern's Africa STCD1092, 2000) - This album was also known as Betece in France.
- Live! (Sono CDS8907, double CD, 2001) - This album is now hard to find.
- Martina (Stern's Africa STCD1096, 2003)
- Ketukuba (Stern's Africa STCD1103, 2006) - This album was released after he passed away.
