Alpha Blondy

The Roots Reggae Library brings to you Reggae music in unique collections. This edition features the complete discography of Alpha Blondy. This discography is unique because of its interpretations and translations of Dioula spoken lyrics.

Alpha Blondy, or Seydou Koné, is a Reggae musician from Côte d'Ivoire. His songs are in various languages, many of them sung in Dioula, a native language of Ivory Coast. Abu Sanoko, assisted me in translating and interpreting Dioula spoken songs. He has helped me throughout the process of understanding the lyrics of Alpha Blondy and will be a key member of the Roots Reggae Library. Without him, this Alpha Blondy edition would not be there. The Reggae that Alpha Blondy plays is often intertwined with African music. A major theme throughout his music is that Africa has fallen ill because of its politicians. His aim is to unite Africa through music.

Alpha Blondy - Jah Glory

01. Rasta Poué

02. Bintou Wêrê Wêrê

03. Jah Glory

04. Dou Nougnan

05. Brigadier Sabari

06. The End

07. Bêbi Yêrê Yé

The first album which Alpha Blondy released in 1983 has seven unique songs, and it is therefore not an a very long playlist. He starts by singing 'Rasta Poué'. Another version of this album was titled the Rasta Poué EP. That album, as well as Jah Glory originally has an eighth song named 'Raste Foué', which is the dub version of 'Rasta Poué'. The song is about what it means to be a Rastaman, a mellow start of the album. 'Bintou Wêrê Wêrê' is a song describes the life of a petticoat girl. Alpha Blondy tells her that even though she might turn on a lot of man, there will be negative consequences for her behavior. A good example of how Reggae music might sound quite cheerful from the surface but is actually rather serious. The first English song you will hear from Alpha Blondy if you started listening with Jah Glory is the song 'Jah Glory' itself. Alpha acknowledges his faith in Jah and asks indirectly to drive away the pain, suffering and poverty . Blondy tells us that women should not choose their men on the basis of their wealth or status in the song 'Dou Nougnan'. A poor man can become rich, and a rich one poor, so marriage should be on the basis of love. The success song on the album proved to be 'Brigadier Sabari'. "Soldier, have pity", "Opération coup de poing", making punching moves whenever he would sing the song live on stage. He tells the story of his arrest in Ivory Coasts capital Abidjan and being treated unjust by the police. He asks Allah to come back to earth and save this world in 'The End'. He compares "the end" with the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and says it will be worse than that. In 'Bêbi Yêrê Yé' he sings that you will be rewarded by God for doing good and you should praise him for doing so.

Alpha Blondy - Cocody Rock

01. Cocody Rock
02. Téré
03. Super Powers
04. Interplanetary Revolution
05. Fangandan Kaméléba
06. Bory Samory












"It's coco, coco, it's 'Cocody Rock'", a well known tune from Alpha Blondy, and at the same time Cocody Rock is also the name of his second album. Cocody is a suburb in the capital of Ivory Coast, Abidjan. The English song 'Cocody Rock' is an introduction to his own music, and the band. This album isn't a very long one. 'Téré' has Alpha Blondy singing about and praising the sun. The inexhaustible sun raises every morning and gives him hope.  'Téré' is soft and mellow, and has a beautiful vibe. Very strong is the following 'Super Powers'. Alpha Blondy ask them to to get rid of machine guns, bounds, political pressure, economical blackmail and nuclear bombs. No CIA nor KGB in Africa he begs. "Danger, conquer, danger, we're living in a dangerous world". This is 'Interplanetary Revolution' kicking in, again a very mellow track, but serious nonetheless. He sings about interplanetary war, crime and murder. We should have a revolution, because Alpha is sick and tired of the struggle. Then 'Fangandan Kaméléba'. "Fangandan" meaning a poor man, and "kaméléba" a womanizer. Alpha sings about Samory Touré, the founder of the 19th century Wassoulou Empire in present-day Guinea, who fought against French colonialists. He named the track 'Bory Samory'.

Alpha Blondy - Apartheid Is Nazism

01. Afriki
02. Jah Houphouët
03. Apartheid Is Nazism
04. Idjidja
05. Sahel
06. Sebe Allah Y'e
07. Kiti
08. Come Back Jesus
09. Djinamory









Jamaica's population consisting for the majority of the descendants of African slaves. Jamaica is Africa, Alpha sings in 'Afriki'. He sings about Montego Bay and Kingston. Félix Houphouët-Boigny led Ivory Coast to independence in 1960. He is a reoccurring figure in Alpha Blondy songs. 'Jah Houphouët' is the first instance we get to know his. The comparison of Apartheid in South Africa and Nazism in Germany is striking, it has lend its name for full album, 'Apartheid Is Nazism'. On the next song, which is in Dioula, he sings about self reliance. Rely on yourself, and not on others who might have wrong ideas, 'Idjidja'. I would place 'Idjidja' in the same category as 'Jah Houphouët', as both songs deliver me goosebumps. In Arabic, the word 'Sahel' means "coast", as in Ivory Coast which is written as "ساحل". He asks the Lord for help and to rescue Africa from famine, drought and the economic crisis Africa is hungry and no one has come to help us! Alpha mentions the sun, the moon, animals, wind and water, and above all Allah, in 'Sebe Allah Y'e'. From Allah to "judgement day", which is what 'Kiti' is about. The end of the world, and what will happen. One important objective Alpha Blondy maintained throughout his discography was to musically unite those of different believes. This is why he has on one album, songs about Allah and 'Come Back Jesus'. The theme of Christianity is continued in 'Djinamory' where he sings about bringing gifts for the holy child, and about the offers he brings in life himself.

Alpha Blondy - Jerusalem 

01. Jerusalem
02. Politiqui
03. Bloodshed In Africa
04. I Love Paris
05. Kalachnikov Love
06. Travailler C'est Trop Dur
07. Miwa
08. Boulevard De La Mort
09. Dji









An album on which, as the album cover tells, Alpha Blondy cooperated with some of the same musicians that helped Bob Marley in his solo career. The album was recorded in Jamaica. The first song of the album may very well be the most well-known song of his whole discography, 'Jerusalem'. A song popularized in the Netherlands as it is often played in coffeeshops. As Alpha has done before, he shows his effort of uniting different religions, choosing an important city as the theme for unification for Jews, Muslims and Christians. After the independence of African countries, a lot of those countries have been destroyed by politics. Alpha has a strong song regarding politics with 'Politiqui'. Much of politics in the continent has led to 'Bloodshed In Africa'. The song transcends his national struggle, but includes other countries. He sings about Angola, Namibia, Chad and Ethiopia. Let's get rid of all these negative feelings and make way for a pure love song. In the first song Blondy sang that he loved Jerusalem, but now he comes in with 'I Love Paris'. Then he follows up with the another love, 'Kalachnikov Love', a love that can destroy mankind. He sings how all of us want to be number one, but how peace should be more important. The song has a long build-up, not much lyrics, but once he starts with the chorus he creates goosebumps on my skin. Alpha takes his Bible, Torah and Quran from Abidjan to Saint-Félix, feeding himself on love. The work is hard, but it is better than doing bad things in your life. 'Miwa' is another song with war in Africa as a theme. The Boulevard Valéry-Giscard-d'Estaing in Abidjan is an important road which connects to the International Airport. It is the 'Boulevard De La Mort', the Boulevard of Death, because it has repeatedly been an important battle zone throughout the political unrest in the history of Ivory Coast. 'Dji' is a slow song. It is a word from the Madinka ethnic group, meaning "water". Loosely translate, the song goes "water oh water, whereto my friend left, water oh water, where are you Salia. Salia went to the waterfront to work, but I haven't seen Salia for two days. Water oh water. Where are you Salia? You made me mad, I was unfriendly to you, but I encompass now. I was not myself, I want to live with you. Water oh water, where are you Salia?".

Alpha Blondy - Revolution

01. Sweet Fanta Diallo
02. Blesser
03. Jah Houphouët-Boigny Nous Parle
04. Rock And Roll Remedy
05. Time
06. Election Koutcha
07. Miri (ft. Aïcha Koné)












Revolution starts with an extremely positive melody. 'Sweet Fanta Diallo' is a song that Alpha Blondy sings very often in live concerts. He performed the song as well on the live concert I attended with Lodewijk Bramer in 2009 in Groningen. He made a clip for this song as well, which is mostly black and white. Every day he wonders where the girl is that he sings about. The community Alpha interacts with seems a very close one, and we see a big wallpaper of Bob Marley and the Survival album on the wall in his room. 'Blesser' has a much more serious tune. It mentions a thief that steals clothing, and faces the police. Another track focussing on Félix Houphouët-Boigny. As Bob Marley used a speech of Haile Selassie for his 'War' track, Alpha Blondy uses a speech from Houphouët-Boigny for 'Jah Houphouët-Boigny Nous Parle'. The speech focusses on the independence of Ivory Coast and the relationship with former colonizer France. This speach was given at the Acts of the International Symposium in 1986 at Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. Alpha attempts to enter the Rock domain in 'Rock And Roll Remedy'. It would not be the last time that he leans towards Rock, as we will find later on in his discography. "When you got to go you got to go", "'Time' reigns, time wins", "so hang on the ground". Two English songs in a row. He ends this rather short album in terms of number of tracks with two songs in Dioula. Corruption in 'Election Koutcha', and this corruption will bring about a rotten election. Together with female singer Aïcha Koné the track 'Miri' was made. It is about a marriage of fifteen years and eight children. They sing about the importance of the future of those children, and about forgiveness.

Alpha Blondy - The Prophets

01. The Prophet
02. Banana
03. Coup D'état
04. Kolombaria
05. Face To Face
06. Black Men Tears
07. Corinthiens
08. Jah Music










A rooster opens the album and the song 'The Prophet'. Even though the title of the song is in English, the song is not. Another name for the song is 'Allah Lêka Netchi', which is what he sings.
For three of the songs on this album a video clip was made. 'Banana' is one of them. The song is about the cultivation of banana's, and about those who work on the plantations to earn enough money to provide for their families. He makes a strong entrance with 'Coup D'état', too many seizures of African governments. In the clip that was made for this song we see Alpha Blondy wearing a military outfit, holding a map of Africa in his hands. He sings that Africa is being messed up by the interference of Soviets and the Americans. Ça suffit comme ça", "enough is enough". Towards the end of the clip he rips apart the African map, and changes his outfit. 'Kolombaria' has Alpha Blondy singing about going to school. Not going to school will not lead to good things. In English he sings about being 'Face To Face' with his life and with his destiny. He tells himself to stop fooling himself and to deal with reality. He continues in English with 'Black Men Tears' which has a harmonious sound. Black people face economical slavery. He wonders why black and white can't work together and live in harmony. In French, 'Corinthiens', a song that also has a video clip which shows Alpha Blondy dresed up as a Pharaoh at a rock next to the sea. Again he wants people to unite, to be able to talk to each other and to think alike. The album ends with a track that I personally find very strong and gives a powerful touch to the album as a whole, 'Jah Music'. A track dedicated to Reggae music and the feelings derived from it. For young and old.

Alpha Blondy - S.O.S. Guerre Tribale

01. Babylone Kêlê
02. Yagba Dimension
03. Cissê Kiri
04. Café Cacao
05. Sida In The City
06. Véto De Dieu

Maybe not the most accessible album of Alpha Blondy for his English speaking fans. Nevertheless a very nice album, and on the Roots Reggae Library I will try to make it more approachable. The album is called S.O.S. Tribal War in English, which translates to S.O.S. Guerre Tribale in French. There is another album cover that circulates for this album as well. The first song he sings is about the constant struggle between black and white. Why should we have this struggle at all, we are all the same, 'Babylone Kêlê'. We are introduced to a tradition in Ivory Coast, as "Yagba" is a traditional dance in the country. With female background singers, 'Yagba Dimension'. Moctar Touré and Madou Coulibaly who he mentions in the song are likely friends of him. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? That question is asked in the song 'Cissê Kiri'. Alpha also tells us not to mock those who suffer. And "vines that have served to tie you come out of the bush you have neglected", a message similar to "the stone that the builder refuse, will be the head corner stone" by Bob Marley  With the song Alpha sings about the life of this man. Ivory Coast has been the world's leading exporter of cocao beans for decades. These beans are obviously used for the production of chocolate. The large production of it was partly responsible for the "Ivorian miracle", the economical boom in Ivory Coast after its independence from France. Blondy sings 'Café Cacao' on S.O.S. Tribal War. Even though the title is in English, 'Sida In The City' is a French song. "SIDA" is the French name for AIDS, namely "Syndrome Immuno Déficitaire Acquis". Alpha sings about using protection when having sexual intercourse, and the threat of aids. 'Véto De Dieu' is the reference to the album title, as God says no to tribal war. Alpha Blondy commands us to "give peace a chance". War makes no sense, and mankind has lost his mind.

Alpha Blondy - Masada

01. Masada
02. Multipartisme
03. Rendez-Vous
04. God Is One
05. Yéyé
06. Desert Storm
07. Houphouët Yako
08. Peace In Liberia
09. Papa Bakoye
10. Les Chiens
11. Sciences Sans Conscience
12. Fulgence Kassy
13. Ça Me Fait Si Mal
14. Mystic Night Move




A new album by Alpha Blondy which is far more lengthy the previous ones. From now onwards, all his albums will pass the mark of ten tracks. Masada starts with 'Masada'. This album is again a mix of various languages. The song 'Masada' is predominantly in English, but he also sings in Hebrew "God bless Masada". Masada being an ancient fortification near the Dead Sea, in Israel. 'Multipartisme', "Médiocratie", a song opposing multi-party systems, where he sings that everyone in the nation is angry because they are not getting paid. This goes on not only in Abidjan, but also in Cotonou, Bamako, Libreville, Conakry, Monrovia, Lome, Kinshasa, and Addis Abeba. Where many interpret a part of the lyrics as "marijuana, marijuana", he actually sings "wari-banan, wari-banan, gbêrêva bé bê-kan". This means "money is the end, money is the end, poverty is back in the whole world". 'Rendez-Vous' is a track with a French name, but mostly English lyrics. This particular rendezvous is meant to be a romantic one. He made a video clip for 'Rendez-Vous' as well. His attempts to unite those with different religions are endless. We had heard 'Jerusalem' before. Now he comes with 'God Is One'. He sings that "some call him Allah, some call him Adonai, some call him Jehovah, Jesus, Hiave, Buddha, Krishna". Blondy sings about the music he grew up with in 'Yeye', hoewever all he wants to hear now is Reggae. The other way around compared to 'Rendez-Vous', because you'd expect an English song for 'Desert Storm', but he comes in French. He wants Kuwait to be free, neither does he want any of his other brothers to be shot. The war in the Gulf is a 'Desert Storm'. Another song about Félix Houphouët-Boigny, 'Houphouët Yako', where with hindsight he tells us that Félix was right about the white men. I remember Alpha Blondy taking his time for a long speech before he would start playing 'Peace In Liberia' at the concert I attended. "We want peace in Liberia, peace in Monrovia" and "Babylon shall not stand again". Another song about God is 'Papa Bakoye'. The song builds up in a mellow way, to find its beat eventually. Dogs bark for the opening of 'Les Cheins', being left behind. We continue to listen in French, 'Science Sans Conscience', "n'est que ruine de l'âme" and "n'est que ruines et larmes", meaning "the ruin of the soul" and "only ruins and tears". Alpha cries out for help while we are using radioactivity, biological weapons and continue our collective suicide. Roger 'Fulgence Kassy' was a journalist and radio presenter in Ivory Coast. One of those programs was "Première Chance", "First Chance", on which Alpha Blondy came on. Alpha Blndy pays tribute to the man that gave him a stage, a couple of years after his death. Then, 'Ça Me Fait Si Mal', 'It Hurts Me So Much', he finds it very hard to accept that after fifty years Africa still has no real standing in the world and in people's minds. Another thing tough for him is that "why should black heroes die so soon",  'Mystic Night Move'. A song in which he remembers Bob Marley, "Zion lion flew away to his mystic resting place".

Alpha Blondy - Dieu

01. Abortion Is A Crime
02. Dieu
03. Wild Time
04. Amour Papier Longueur
05. La Guerre
06. Mon Père Avait Raison
07. Rockng Time
08. Heal Me
09. Gorée
10. Afrique - Antilles
11. Soukeina
12. Dos Au Mur






God, which is what Dieu means in French. I reckon that the first song does not need much of an explanation. I do think that the music in 'Abortion Is A Crime' is nice. I personally do not share the same view, but everyone is entitled to an opinion. With Alpha's efforts to unite all human beings, you can't take him down for a single opinion. He has then used the melody of 'Abendigo', a song by The Abyssinians, to sing 'Dieu'. His song is not a praise to God, but a complaint at his doorstep. He is tired of Israelis and Palestinians fighting one another. It starts with a yawn, but Blondy describes the passing of this 'Wild Time', in which our brothers and sisters are badly affected by violence and crime. Alpha shows his love for education, in the Dioula song 'Amour Papier Longueur'. Education is what we need for the future of our children. Which Reggae listener is not familiar with Bob Marley's 'War'? Alpha Blondy literally translates the song into French, 'La Guerre'. Not only his father, but both his parents were right in 'Mon Père Avait Raison'. He sings about war, for instance in Sarajevo, Mogadishu and Soweto, and about drugs, heroin, cocaine and marijuana. This time not a 'Wild Time' but a 'Rocking Time'. He wants everyone to dance, and you do not need no fancy footwork to dance to Reggae music. This song can be seen as an introduction to the album that he makes after this. 'Heal Me' is a spiritual song in which he asks god to be healed, as he was not feeling very well in the year prior to recording this album. The video clip he recorded for 'Heal Me' features him in the hospital. Just like Steel Pulse played 'Door Of No Return', Alpha Blondy sings a song about 'Gorée' island in Senegal, a place where slaves were kept before being shipped off. He sings this song in Dioula. "Natty dread so far away from home", as Bob Marley once sang, Alpha Blondy makes a musical voyage past many of the former French colonies in the Caribbean territory, an 'Afrique - Antilles'-voyage. The song 'Soukeina' also known as 'Nangnele', and is meant for his daughter and tells her not to be afraid. He knows she is a good person so she should not worry for judgement day. 'Dos Au Mur', means "back against the wall" in French, but the song is in Dioula, just like 'Soukeina'. He sings that man is capable of making everything, but we should be wary before it all tumbles down.

Alpha Blondy - Grand Bassam Zion Rock

01. Ragga Gangstar
02. Alpha Kaya
03. Zion Love
04. Course Au Pouvoir
05. Ya Fohi
06. Valérie
07. Grand-Bassam
08. Mo
09. Cheikh Amadou Bamba
10. Sefon Dance
11. Unité Nationale
12. Silence Houphouët D'or
13. N'kabourou
14. Mystère Naturel




This is an album on which Alpha Blondy goes for a different style. The style in which he had played previous songs such as 'Reggae Rock And Roll' and 'Rocking Time'. Grand Bassam Zion Rock has him fuse Reggae with the Rock genre, for some songs. The electric guitar starts off 'Raggae Ganstar'. He sings about a girl that gets out of jail, buys a guitar, and starts playing Roots, and plays Rock and Roll. A nice transition is made to 'Alpha Kaya', "Alpha male", where he tells us not to seek fame, but to seek achievement. Otherwise you might turn out to be your own enemy. Loaded with Rock he brings 'Zion Love' where his love is "like lightening and thunder", but he cannot really explain why. A race for power, 'Course Au Pouvoir', for which innocent blood is being spilled. Not the first song in which he opposes politics, remembering 'Politiqui' on Jerusalem. In 'Ya Fohi' he tells his baby not to worry, and to forget what happened, nobody is perfect. This song has a video clib too. 'Valérie' is a track in Dioula, and it does not have the Rock twist that some other songs on this album have. There is a video clip available, in which you can see the song is about a woman who ran away from Alpha. He seems to think about her a lot. On the way to Assoyam, a beach south of the city 'Grand-Basam', east of Abidjan. Grand-Basam was the former French colonial capital in the country. Loving God he brings us 'Mo', like 'Valérie' it does not share the Rock sounds that is typical for this album. He sings in both English and French. 'Cheikh Amadou Bamba' was a religious leader in Senegal and the founder of the large Mouride Brotherhood. This song is less Rock like, as well as the next, because 'Sefon Dance' sounds very African. He sings about girls, Mariam and Henriette, and mentions Abidjan. The trumpet sounds and Alpha sings about political parties in Ivory Coast, the PDCI, FPI, RDR, USD and PIT. In 'Unité Nationale' he sings about the national unity that those parties should form. Not much music in the first part of 'Silence Houphouët D'or', as it is a tribute to Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who had recently passed away. The music kicks in after two and a half minutes, and we hear Houphouët-Boigny talking. Just like 'Jah Houphouët-Boigny Nous Parle', this becomes a lengthy track. But whereas Revolution is not such long as an album, Grand Bassam Zion Rock definately is. 'N'kabourou' is a confession on his grave. He is afraid of Satan, and only the Lord can help him. "Have mercy on me and forgive me for all the evil that I have done on this earth, to all those I have harmed down here, ask them to forgive me!" On the previous album Dieu there was the French version of 'War'. The current album ends with a Bob Marley song translated, 'Natural Mystic' becomes 'Mystère Naturel'. The song needs no introduction.

Alpha Blondy - Yithzak Rabin

01. New Dawn
02. Yithzak Rabin
03. Assinie Mafia
04. Les Imbéciles
05. Armée Française
06. Hypocrites
07. Guerre Civile
08. Saraka
09. Les Larmes De Thérèse
10. Lalogo
11. Maïmouna
12. Bakôrôni






In Yithzak Rabin Alpha Blondy takes a step back to find himself back in the Reggae genre. For those who were not big fans of the previous two albums, I can confirm that with this album Alpha picks up where he left off with Masada. A video clip was made for the first track 'New Dawn', with Alpha on a beach, seeing various objects pass him by placed on an assembly line. He misses his girl and wants her to come back. Rather than coming back, 'Yithzak Rabin' is still alive Blondy sings. The Israeli general and politician was assassinated a few years prior to the release of this album. Alpha Blondy emotionally sings to Israel and Jerusalem not to cry about their loss, because his spirit lives on. In 'Grand-Bassam' he was already headed to the beach. Now we have 'Assinie Mafia', a Dioula song about another beach. Assinie Mafia is further east of Abidjan and Grand-Basam, but they are not at great distance from one another. Less sunny are the next two songs on the album. In both 'Les Imbéciles' and the follow up track 'Armée Française' he is critical about the state of affairs in Africa. On 'Les Imbéciles' he sings that the real enemies of Africa are Africans themselves. He gives several examples of countries where inhabitants fight against one another. He sings about Algeria, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi and Angola. And even though there are many mineral riches in Africa, they are not in a strong economic position. I find this song and its lyrics very strong, as well as the next one, in which he shouts his demand; "Armée Française allez-vous en!" He wants the French army to leave, "go away!". No more independence under surveillance, the presence of the French army violates the dignity of the African nations. Leave now from our homes, in Ivory Coast, in Senegal, Gabon, Central Africa, Djibouti and N'Djamena, the capital of Chad. The following two songs also sound more happy than they actually are. He is afraid of 'Hypocrites', and he is also afraid of a 'Guerre Civil'. A dictatorship is not good, and definitely not in a country with many ethnicities. He then resides to praising God for the life that we have, in 'Saraka'. Not the Reggae swing we are used to, for 'Les Larmes De Thérèse', we will get that back in the song that follows after it. In 'Les Larmes De Thérèse' he sings about Mother Teresa,  also known as Teresa of Calcutta. She had died a year prior to the recording of this album. The sky is blue, the ocean is blue, and so are the tears of Thérèse. The last three songs on this album are in Dioula. First is an anti-political song, and a very strong one, 'Lalogo'. Love the music that is played here. The word "lalogo" means "idiot" in Dioula. It tells the people to open their eyes and to see that politicians are manipulating them. He sings that you can not scare a pregnant woman with a banana, because she has seen worse than that. The good music finds continuation, as we listen to 'Maïmouna'. In this song he speaks of a young girl with the name Maïmouna, who was his girlfriend, until he had to leave her because he was told that she was cheating on him. When he thinks back to the time they spent together he feels good. 'Bakôrôni' means "goat" in Dioula. He sings about Peter, Judas, and his betrayal. "The goat will blow in your face" is a symbol of death. He tells us we should be aware of the paths we walk in life.

Alpha Blondy - Elohim

01. Les Voleurs De La République
02. Mônin
03. Journalistes En Danger
04. Waïkiki Rock
05. When I Need You
06. Take No Prisoner
07. Petini Go Gaou
08. Sabotage
09. Lune De Miel
10. Haridjinan
11. La Queu Du Diable
12. Dictature
13. Djeneba
14. Black Samouraï




Elohim in Hebrew means God. The album starts with a song also called 'Cleptocracie', it is 'Les Voleurs De La République', "thieves of the republic", Alpha Blondy sends out an SOS to stop them. Alpha sings 'Mônin', telling us that we should move our ass and work for a living. It will be hard if you come from a village and start to live in the city, but you will have regrets if you do not make an effort. For 'Journalistes En Danger' he opens with a part of French folk song 'Au Clair De La Lune'.. But instead of the original lines he sings about his friend Zongo who was refused to write as a free journalist in Burkina Faso. Alpha points out the failure of democracy, where the people become voiceless. This song is also called 'Démocrature'. Turning back to rock in the summer, 'Waïkiki Rock', a song that is partly in Dioula, and Alpha sings "aloha". "Only a heartbeat away" when 'I Need You', a cover version of the song that has been sung by many artists, such as Leo Sayer and Rod Stewart. He then comes strong with 'Take No Prisoner', signing about "natty dread" and "eating the wounded" referring to the situation in Sudan and in Africa in general. The song is also called 'Cannibalistic'. Female background vocalist fill up the end of the track. In French he sings "je suis fou de 'Petini Go Gaou'". He loves dancing like a fool, is what I can make of it. "Man to man is so unjust, you never know who to trust", the lyrics of Bob Marley in 'Who The Cap Fit' are sung by Alpha Blondy on 'Sabotage'. He sings the lines in French as well. A moon of honey is the French way of saying "honeymoon", a 'Lune De Miel'. In the song he describes a dream of a honeymoon. 'Haridjinan', the "kô kô kô" you hear is loud and strong. A mystical melody. He sings he is knocking on heaven's door, he wants to enter as soon as he can. He sings about others who have passed away, such as Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Fulgence Kassy, Charloux Coulibaly, Lougah François, Jimmy Hyacinthe and others. "They pull the Dvil by his tail", 'La Queue Du Diable'. He addresses the president, telling him that the only way to fight corruption is to fight poverty first. Doctors, teachers and the polic are all in the same boat with the miserable wages they earn. Another political song is 'Dictature', opposing dictatorship. Rather than being divided and ruled, he asks to create unity and peace. 'Djeneba' is a girl's name in Dioula, and he has been waiting for this girl for a long time, she is always late. But today is the big day, and a wonderful one indeed. Blondy is a 'Black Samouraï' and he is preaching love to the sunrise. He is tired of people talking nonsense

Alpha Blondy - Merci

01. Wari (ft. Saïan Supa Crew)
02. Who Are You (ft. Ophélie Winter)
03. Quitte Dans Ça
04. Souroukou Logo
05. God Bless Africa
06. Zoukefiez Moi Ça (ft. Bibi Den's)
07. Ato Afri Loué
08. Politruc
09. Hey Jack
10. Vanité
11. Si On M'avait Dit
12. Le Feu
13. Yana De Fohi (ft. Magic System)
14. Tikilipo (ft. Magic System)
15. Children Of Paradise (ft. Pierrette Adams)
16. Young Guns (ft. UB40)
17. No Child Soldiers (ft. Various Artists)

An album of Alpha Blondy with many contributing artists. The first half of the album are tracks that are originally on the album, whereas the last five songs are added exclusively on the Roots Reggae Library. Altogether a very enjoyable album to listen to. Saïan Supa Crew enters and opens the first song 'Wari', and Alpha asks us who said that money does not buy happiness? We had learned in 'Multipartisme' that the word "wari" in Dioula meant "money". And everyone is looking for it, Saïan Supa Crew raps. Ophélie Winter, actress and singer, sings a duet called 'Who Are You'. They sing about the United Nations and how they dig out landmines in countries such as Angola, Eritrea, Cambodia and Vietnam. Don't talk about what doesn't concern you! That's what 'Quitte Dans Ça' is all about. Do not put your hand in the pocket of a coat you do not wear. Let's stop throwing conflicting messages and hypocritical words towards the people. 'Souroukou Logo' holds that too many people turn to Babylon in order to make life easier for themselves. A song dedicated to Rastafari, 'God Bless Africa'. Alpha sings that in order to be rasta it is not a necessity to smoke marijuana, have dreads or be black. "C'est pas impératif, c'est facultatif", "this is not mandatory, it is optional. A play on words with Zouk, another Caribbean music style, with 'Zoukefiez Moi Ça'. A family drama where the father commits suicide. Reggae may sound happy but 'Ato Afri Loué' proves that it sometimes has nothing to do with the lyrics of a song. Anti politics their 'Politruc', and things go from bad to worse. Eighty percent of African presidents are marionnettes of the West, Alpha sings. "Ne me parlez plus de politique, je veux sauver ma vie" which translates to "Do not talk to me about politics, I want to save my life". The following song is in English and says that you'll find a way if you can learn from the street. 'Hey Jack', in which the windows are foggy. All there is is 'Vanité', nothing new under the sun. He tells us the truth about the wicked, wise, fools, strong and intelligent. To me 'Si On M'avait Dit' is like 'Lessons In My Life' of Peter Tosh. He sings that if someone had told him that he would always be a foreigner then he would have always loved without regrets. And if someone had told him that love can also betray, he could have lived without hate. In any case, he would have laid down under the trees and rest. You are playing with fire, "vous jouez avec 'Le Feu'". Blondy is tired of all war that is fought, especially those lit by personal feuds between leaders of nations. That is where Merci ends on the original album. However, Merci on the Roots Reggae Library has another five songs waiting for you. The first two additions on this album are produced together with Magic System, a music group from Ivory Coast. These songs are more uptempo, 'Yana De Fohi' for example. "There is nothing wrong my love", so just take the bright side of life! 'Tikilipo' is slang for "politics", changing the word around. It attacks politics on the ground that it makes inter-ethnic marriage less common, trying to divide the social cohesion of the country. 'Children Of Paradise' is a song about the innocence of Children. Alpha Blondy sings the first part of the song after which Pierrette Adams fills the second part of the track with her voice. Adams is originally from Congo, but lives in Abidjan. 'Young Guns' is a song that UB0 produced for their Homegrown album, and a version was made on which Alpha Blondy sings in French. That is the version you'll find here. 'No Child Soldies' is a song speaking up for the lives of young children in Africa exploited by military regimes. It is a track that has been recorded with a large variety of artists, of which Alpha Blondy is one.

Alpha Blondy - Jah Victory

01. I Wish You Were Here
02. Sankara
03. Ranita
04. Ne Tirez Pas Sur L'ambulance
05. Demain T'appartient (ft. Lester Bilal)
06. Bahia
07. Mister Grande Guele
08. Africa Yako
09. Cameroun
10. Jah Light
11. Le Bai Des Combattus (ft. Didi Kalombo)
12. Tampîri
13. Les Salauds
14. Sales Racistes
15. Ikafô
16. Jésus
17. Gban Gban
18. La Planète
19. La Route De La Paix

The longest Alpha Blondy album in terms of number of tracks. It starts with a cover of Pink Floyd's 'I Whish You Were Here', which he puts on a Reggae-jacket. Thomas 'Sankara' was an anti-imperialist politian from Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso, who led the revolution of Burkina Faso in 1983. His life ended when he was murdered in 1987. He tells 'Ranita' that he loves her with all his heart, despite all the gossip, nothing can break their union. 'Ne Tirez Pas Sur L'ambulance', "don't pull back the ambulance", because la Côte d'Ivoire is injured. Blondy wants to wipe the tears and care for the heart of the country. Tomorrow comes the challenge together with Lester Bilal for 'Demain Tappartient'. Alpha wants to build an empire for the children of tomorrow, because each child carries in the palm of their hands the keys to the door of this world. Reggae has become very popular in Brazil lately, and Alpha Blondy has noticed. He sings a song about Salvador, the capital of the state 'Bahia'. He made a nice video clip as well for the song, recorded in Brazil. Many albums ago he sang 'I Love Paris', he now found a new place where he loves the life. He tunes back to a serious tone in 'Mister Grand Gueule', sick and tired of big mouths telling him what to do. Do him a favour, and shut up, mister grand gueule, you are nog Che Guevara or Nelson Mandela. Much more happy sounds 'Africa Yako', where "yako" in Baoulé means "sorry", used here to express the compassion for Africa, in Swahili it means "my/your". Alpha has left his heart in Douala, 'Cameroun', the largest city in the country. The sun shines on his bike, in the swimming pool, the restaurant, the cinema and other places. "I need 'Jah Light' to see through the night". 'Jah Light' is a strong track. In 'Les Bal Des Combattus' he sings that war is not worth fighting for, so stop, it is not meant for amusement. This song he sings together with Didi Kalombo. No confusion and no bad interpretations, and he tells us that 'Tampîri' means "fool" in Moré, the Mossi language. There are fools all around Africa, in Angola, Rwanda, Mozambique, Central Africa, Ethiopia, Somalia, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Congo-Brazzaville and DR Congo. Quite different from other tracks on this album, with its electric guitar, followed by silence, is 'Les Salauds'. Translated, he sings "the bastards have set fire to my paradise", the journalists, politicians, priests and imams, "they are stupid and nasty, they put fire and swords on this country". They neither care about our parents or children. The songs ends with an emotional whistle. A second cover song on this album, this time a Bob Marley one, 'Crazy Baldhead', 'Sales Racistes'. For the next song he comes up with an Dioula saying, "if you say to be able to make an elephant wear panties, two things can happen". You will either succeed and achieve great work, or you will fail and you will be a huge loser. This is 'Ikafô'. Honesty and waiting take a long time, whereas the politicians want to rush into civil war. He mentions other songs of himself in this one, 'Politiqui', 'Election Koutcha', 'Multipartisme', 'Armée Française' and 'Guerre Civile'. "'Jésus' m'a tout donné", meaning "Jesus gives me everything". The Gban are an ethnic group in Ivory Coast. I interpret the song 'Gban Gban' as Alpha singing that the people in Ivory Coast build the country in the past, but their current politicians are taking it down. "You know, the planet is a village" in "Tu sais 'La Planète' est un village", and its easy to talk the same language, and why mess with the Chinese? Together we are on 'La Route De La Paix', the road of peace. Let us follow the star, the star of reconciliation.

Alpha Blondy - Vision

01. Rasta Bourgeois
02. Stewball
03. Trop Bon
04. Pinto
05. C'est Magic
06. Tu Mens
07. Ma Tête
08. Vuvuzela
09. Bôgô
10. Ces Soi-Disant Amis
11. Massaya
12. Le Cha-Cha-Cha Du CFA
13. L'autre Rive
14. Afrik For Haïti (ft. Various Artists)




Sick and tired of being poor Alpha starts this Vision album with 'Rasta Bourgeois'. Children should be able to go to school he sings. The video clip he made has him in an up-class setting explaining us he has had it with poverty, it is a social crime. Alpha sings 'Stewball', a Reggae version of 'Il S'appelait Stewball' by Hugues Aufray. With 'Trop Bon' he says that there are two races on this earth, a good race and a race of idiots, "trop bon, trop con", either too good, or too stupid". This is what his grandfather told, who told him as well that family is a priority. 'Pinto' is a song in Dioula, where he sings that everyone is born under a particular star, and we all hope for good health and a long life. This life is magic, or in French, "la vie 'C'est Magic'", a song with a generic sound. The atmosphere changes when he accuses those who contemplate war of being lairs, even when they simply breath, "'Tu Mens' comme tu respires". The next song could be dedicated to the same politicians, as he tells them to speak to his ass, because his head is sick, "parle à mon cul, 'Ma Tête' est malade". Since the Football World Cup in South Africa everyone knows what a 'Vuvuzela' is. However, Alpha is singing about a different vuvuzela here, one that needs to be protected from sida, aids. Dioula again, 'Bôgô', where every human being is made of earth and blood. None of us have any innate knowledge, so we should entrust ourselves to God without fear. These so-called friends, 'Ces Soi-Disant Amis', are half friend, half traitor. The more he knows his friends, the more he loves his dog. It's better to be alone than in bad company. In 'Massaya' he addresses the future kings of Africa to make a difference. Everything has an end, except the limitless power of god. A king or president should not be too hard on his people. True sovereignty is to have an honest president and not a puppet. For instance the decisions of the BCEAO are taken in Frankfurt, rather than in Burkina Faso, as well as the decisions of the BAC that should be taken in Congo. 'Le Cha-Cha-Cha Du CFA' is yet another strong anti-politics song. A flute opens 'L'autre Rive', and it has a completely different content than previous songs. Alpha praises live on this earth in a mellow way. Added exclusively on the Roots Reggae Library is 'Afrik For Haïti', a song that comes from an initiative of Coumba Gawlo, a woman we will meet on the next Alpha Blondy album as well. This song features a large number of artists, including another artist that previously sang with Blondy, Aïcha Koné.

Alpha Blondy - Mystic Power

01. Hope (ft. Beenie Man)

02. My American Dream

03. J'ai Tué Le Commissaire

04. Seydou (ft.Coumba Gawlo)

05. Crime Spirituel

06. La Bataille D'Abidjan

07. France À Fric

08. Ouarzazate

09. Soutra

10. Woman

11. La Méteque

12. Danger Ivoirité

13. Reconciliation (ft. Tiken Jah Fakoly)

14. Pardon

15. Exil

Mystic Power starts with a collaboration with Beenie Man, with a song called 'Hope'. Love and hope is what will need for tomorrow. The song does not have many Reggae characteristics. Alpha Blondy had gone to the United States prior to recording his first album to improve his English. The second song on this album has him sing about his shattered 'My American Dream'. He is going back home to Africa. 'I Shot The Sheriff', Bob Marley, a follow up on 'War', 'Natural Mystic' and 'Crazy Baldhead' covers produced by Blondy. 'I Shot The Sheriff' translates to 'J'ai Tué Le Commissaire' in French. Together with Coumba Gawlo, a female singer from Senegal, 'Seydou' is set for this album. Note that Alpha Blondy his actual name is Seydou Koné. In the song they sing that the war is over, drop the weapons. They are tired of the atrocities caused by war. It is now time to forgive and deposit the weapons. 'Crime Spirituel' has Alpha Blondy explaining that believing in Allah is not a criminal act. Neither was Mohammed a prophet of terrorists. He sings "محمد"صلى الله عليه وسلم", or "Mohammed, salaeh aleh wa salam", meaning "Mohammed, peace be upon him". Religion should not be used as an excuse to bring about distruction. In March 2011 the second Ivorian Civil War broke out. 'La Bataille D'Abidjan', the Battle of Abidjan, refers to this. The Battle of Abidjan broke out in the end of March, heavily influenced by the French Army and United Nation convoys. For Alpha's opinion about the French Army, I refer to the song 'Armée Française' on Yithzak Rabin. Franceafrique is a term that refers to the relationship of France to its former African colonies. However, the song is spelled ' France À Fric', "fric" being slang for money. Alpha sings "France à fric, fric, fric, fric", which sounds like "France has money". 'Ouarzazate', known as "the door of the desert", is a city in Morocco. Alpha sings about a festival in the city, love, happiness and togetherness. We hear a northern African flute in the song too. 'Soutra' in Dioula means protection and discretion. "Rastafari on the rise again", "have you ever seen a 'Woman giving birth, then you know women are the higher power on earth". "Mystical power, physical power, divine power". The album title Mystic Power refers to his love for women. Just like 'Stewball' on the previous album, 'Le Méteque' is a cover of a French chanson, this one by Georges Moustaki. It is about a man who never really feels at home. Ivory Coast is dangerous, especially when it concerns politics, 'Danger Ivoirité'. The ideologies of some of its politicians he calls "Negro Nazism". Then follows a moment many Ivorians will have been waiting for, the working together of Alpha Blondy and Tiken Jah Fakoly. They sing 'Réconciliation', as it is the right time for it, rather than retaliation. Others appearing in this song are Ismaël Isaac, Meiway, Monique Seka and Wiper Sabeherty. An apology to all whom Alpha might have hurt along the way, 'Pardon'. The album is closed of by an à cappella song of the background singers, 'Exil', or 'Malavoi'.

Full Discography

««««« (1983) Jah Glory
««««« (1984) Cocody Rock
««««« (1985) Apartheid Is Nazism
««««« (1986) Jerusalem
««««« (1987) Revolution
««««« (1989) The Prophets
««««« (1990) S.O.S. Guerre Tribale
««««« (1992) Masada
««««« (1994) Dieu
««««« (1996) Grand Bassam Zion Rock
««««« (1998) Yithzak Rabin
««««« (1999) Elohim
««««« (2002) Merci
««««« (2007) Jah Victory
««««« (2011) Vision
««««« (2013) Mystic Power

Original Date Of Publishing: January 2015