Fabric of Life
Listening Post 383. In the same way that many people chant and pray in ancient languages they don’t fully understand, so are connoisseurs of world music often inspired by secular songs in languages they have never studied. With Dobet Gnahoré’s seventh studio album, it’s easy to float on the lyrics in Bété—her native language from Côte d’Ivoire—without grasping a word. But the album booklet (with English and French translations) reveals a striking parallel with the sacred. Reminiscent of Ecclesiastes, Zouzou (Angel) is a collection of observations in which life’s landmarks and passages do not turn according to seasons but interweave like threads: Childhood with maturity, resilience with fragility, custom with change, self with humanity, the spiritual with the tangible, what is seen with what is not. After 25 years in France, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-dancer-percussionist decided to record Zouzou in her homeland so she could take advantage of the rich musical and artistic resources of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s largest city, and also to help launch a project to build an orphanage there. Gnahoré offers the 11 songs in her trademark sunny Afropop, with just enough electronics to give tradition a contemporary edge. In the title track she evokes angels as a symbol of youthful energy, recalling special moments in her own childhood (video 1); while Kômou Bébé (Always More, video 2) explores driving ambition under the shadow of greed. Two songs pay tribute to nature: Ayoka (Thank You, video 3), a paean to the magic of existence that she began writing in her teens; and Gni (The River, video 4), celebrating the power of water. The album’s beating heart is Espoir (Hope, video 5) about the injunction—common to all faiths—to meet suffering with generosity (video 5). Rooted in a single culture, Zouzou communicates on myriad levels, transcending language, time and borders. (Cumbancha)

Dobet Gnahoré: Zouzou
Dobet Gnahoré: Vocals, percussion
Julien Pestre: Guitar
Bodjo Dibo: Drums
Louis Haessler: Bass
Colin Laroche de Féline: Guitar
Sery Akouba Emmanuelle: Backing Vocals
Boti-Bi Elisée: Guitar
Ogomo Dieudonne Landry: Guitar
Ediamed N’Cho Achango: Trumpet
Mac Donald: Saxophone
Momo Wang: Producer, programming, keyboards
Idan Raichel: Piano
Ariel Sheney: Piano

Related posts. Dobet Gnahoré: Na Drê, Listening post 26, Dec. 22, 2015 http://worldlisteningpost.com/2015/12/22/dobet-gnahore-na-dre/
Dobet Gnahoré: Couleur, Listening Post 322, Oct. 13, 2021 https://worldlisteningpost.com/2021/10/13/dobet-gnahore-couleur/

Zouzou / Angel
Lyrics: Dobet Gnahoré, Ismael Cissoko/Music: Dobet Gnahoré

(From the lyrics in Bété)
I felt the presence of an angel
The angel passed by, I couldn’t see him, but I felt him

Kômou Bébé / Always More
Lyrics & music: Dobet Gnahoré

At first, it was: I want a house
Now that I have my house, I want another
Now that I have a lover, I want another

At first, it was: I want a car
Now that I have a car, I want a bigger one
At first, it was: I want health
Now that I have health, I do nothing to stay healthy

I always want more, I always wonder why
The worst part is that I am aware of all these demands from my ego

Ayoka / Thank You
Lyrics: Dobet Gnahoré, Ismael Cissoko/Music: Junior Sepoux Ezeckiel, Dobet Gnahoré

Gni / The River
Lyrics: Dobet Gnahoré, Ismael Cissoko/Music: Dobet Gnahoré

He sé he sé la
He sé he sé la haha, la haha
He sé he sé la
He sé he sé la haha, la haha

By this river, love lives
Love flows like water
By this river, love lives
Love flows like water

Houhou

Let’s let our hearts fill with sweet thoughts near the river
The atmosphere is calm and peaceful, the silence is infinite
Imagination becomes fertile, it is in its sphere of love
It is impossible for negativity to arise

Espoir / Hope
Lyrics: Dobet Gnahoré/Music: Momo Wang

(From the lyrics in Bété and French)
We are here to share with the poor
We are here to give to the suffering
We are all brothers and sisters
We are all from the same earth

I will never let a brother suffer
I will never let a sister cry
I will never let a child die of hunger
They also have the right to happiness

Knowing how to share with those who have nothing
We need someone to hold our hand
Our priority is to give in order to save

We must all love each other
We must all support each other
We are all equal
Because the world is joy

Life, la hooo
We are all just passing through
When you see misery, don’t hesitate to save
We must help each other