IVORY COAST: Popular Ivorian band "Magic System" plays at the reunification concert in Bouake during their 10th anniversary

Record ID: 1539182

  • Title: IVORY COAST: Popular Ivorian band "Magic System" plays at the reunification concert in Bouake during their 10th anniversary
  • Date: 12th September 2007
  • Summary: MAGIC SYSTEM AND COMMANDANT WATTAO SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGIC SYSTEM'S ANNIVERSARY CAKE MAGIC SYSTEM BLOWING OUT CANDLES ON THE ANNIVERSARY CAKE
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2007 09:16
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA9PUC6YCV4I29SGAYHRKFDT9KS
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Singing of poverty, ambition, love and war, Ivory Coast's biggest musical export Magic System has enjoyed a dizzying 10-year rise to fame transforming the trials and joys of Ivorian life into song.
    From humble beginnings singing at baptisms and funerals to notching 11 gold and one platinum disc in France, the four singers who grew up in an impoverished suburb of Abidjan are staging two concerts to celebrate their decade of success.
    "Music for us is a factor that unites people. Nowadays, Ivorians don't listen that much to Ivory Coast music. The natives of the Ivory Coast listened to Bob Marley, the natives of the Ivory Coast listened to Elvis Presley, therefore it means that music doesn't have borders. For us music is a channel used to pass on a message," said lead singer Salif Toure or 'A'Salfo'.
    The first concert took place this weekend in Bouake, a city in the country's north seized by rebels during a 2002-2003 civil war but which is now slowly putting conflict behind since a home-grown peace deal signed in March.
    As technicians tweaked acoustics in Bouake's stadium before 10,000 fans arrived, A'Salfo said the band's success was all about hard work and keeping touch with the humble roots that inspire their song writing.
    "It is at this stadium that part of the weapons were incinerated, and for us to play here, that is indeed symbolic. It has become a mythical stadium for all Ivory Coast artists and for the whole of Ivory Coast. That is why we chose this venue, so as to participate in the reconciliation progress," added A'Salfo.
    The artists, all in their 30s, will also be on stage next Saturday (September 15) in the economic capital Abidjan, performing their Zouglou hits -- a catchy style of music whose songs incorporate traditional African drums and rhythms and usually tell a story.
    Conquering the Francophone world with ease, even being received by the former French President Jacques Chirac and his wife, the group has played concerts all over English-speaking Africa as well as in Germany, Holland and has fans in Japan.
    "Magic System is the pride of Ivory Coast, especially for our generation, which means us - our generation. Here are the people who left from nothing, that became someone today, that carries the national flag, that gives a very good picture of our country. I think that it is for it that this formation has success," Didier Bleou, A TV presenter said.
    One of their recent hits, "Bouger, Bouger" (Move it, Move it), won a Golden Ringtone award in France in 2006 after it surpassed 200,000 downloads to French mobile phones.
    The band has never performed in the United States but are planning a tour there and in Canada in April, their manager said, adding they planned to record with Wyclef Jean.
    The group's biggest hit, "Premier Gaou", recounts A'Salfo's personal experience of his girlfriend leaving him because he was penniless, only to come rushing back a year later seeking to share his good fortune after spotting him performing on TV.
    An instant hit at home and later in France notching up more than one million sales, the "Gaou" or "Fool", mockingly rejects her advances in the lyrics, saying he would only be a real "Gaou", if he took her back.
    One of the highlights of the concert occurred when the band members gathered round to blow out the candles on their anniversary cake.
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