Coupé-Décalé vs Zouglou

Featuring Oze Champi . Ce soir au village . Boombastik . Coupe Decale . Les Grouilleurs . Ceki’sa . Vetcho Lolas . Prince Douky . Tuer pour tuer . Petit Denis . Gnanhi . Dj Phéno . Ingratitude . Les leadeurs . Gnèze . Les salopards . Vive le maire . Mokobe . Dj Lewis . Bisou . Espoir 2000 . Xenophobie . BB DJ . Enfant Poli . Atito . Les Patrons . Kedjévara . Chékélé . Soulever Vouma . Appoloss . Ma république . Magic System . Zouglou Dance

African Journals OnLine : What can account for the youth’s crave for Zouglou music? Why are politicians, the almighty media, and the entertainment industry all inculcating the youth such stupid music? Aren’t they leading the youth to being passive? Aren’t they handing them over to the beasts of capital?

BBC : A distinctively Ivorian musical style known as Zouglou is famous for its witty, satirical lyrics which grew up alongside the student protest movement. “Zouglou was a fighting movement for people, especially for youth and students”, said Charles Ble Goude, general secretary of FESCI, Ivory Coast’s national student movement.

Wikipedia : Coupé-Décalé was pioneered by the late Stephane Doukouré (a.k.. “Douk-Saga”) during the post-2002 militaro-political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire. It reflects the aspirations of a large section of Ivorian youth. Coupé-Décalé is a very percussive style featuring African samples, deep bass, and repetitive, minimalist arrangements.

Afropop Worldwide : The closest thing yet to a national Ivorian music style, zouglou takes its name from a communal dance, and generally expresses the troubles and aspirations of students.

RFI : In the spring of 1999, Magic System went into the Soft studio, a facility technically capable of rivaling the most successful West African studios. They recorded the first tracks of their blockbuster album “1er Gaou.”

Africabox tv : Coupé-décalé is a dance that appeared in 2003 in Côte d’Ivoire and within the Ivorian community living in France, particularly among the Ivorian circles of Paris (the Jet Set.) Some rhythms that make extensive use of bass guitar and Lingala were inspired by the Ndombolo(a dance of Zaire), while some are dances come from Attié dance steps. (ethnic group of Côte d’Ivoire.) It is part of the the more global cultural movement (or concept) of Sagacité (we shall often use one name to talk refer to the other.)

Museke : Coupe Decale means ‘cut and shift’. It is a unique style using African percussions, deep bass among others. It expressed the pulse of the Ivorian society while giving an insight into the political situation of the country.