Alpha Blondy

Alpha Blondy

Alpha Blondy is the stage name of Seydou Koné, a reggae singer from Dimbokro, Côte d’Ivoire. Born in 1953, he is identified with reggae, roots reggae and dub, and is described as a major figure in West African popular music.

He performs mainly in Dioula, his native language, and also sings in French and English, with some songs in Arabic or Hebrew. His lyrics often carry political themes and include humour. He also coins the French term “democrature” to describe certain African governments, a word sometimes rendered in English as “democratatorship”.

Alpha Blondy studies English at Hunter College in New York and later at the Columbia University American Language Program. He also performs with The Wailers.