Gnonnas Pedro Explained

Gnonnan Sossou Pierre Kouassivi, known by the stage name Gnonnas Pedro was a singer and musician from Lokossa,[1] [2] Benin. He is perhaps best known as the lead singer of Africando between 1995 and his death in 2004 but had been well known in his home country of Benin and beyond since the 1960s.[3]

Pedro led his own bands Pedro y Sus Panchos, later reforming as Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band, before joining the long-lived Orchestre Poly-rythmo de Cotonou.

As a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and dancer, Pedro embraced many styles of music including highlife and juju. Pedro is credited with updating the traditional Agbadja style of his home region, creating Modern Agbadja. He sang in many different languages, including Mina, Adja, Yoruba, French, English, and Spanish.[4] Pedro produced the song "Feso Jaiye",[5] which became a hit and was performed by many bands at the 2nd All-Africa Games in 1973.

Death

Gnonnas Pedro died on 12 August 2004, age 61, from prostate cancer in a hospital of Cotonou, Benin.[6]

Discography

Solo

With Africando

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://naijanet.com/news/source/2003/oct/20/71.html Gnonnas Pedro and His Dadjes Band: Singing Across the Continent
  2. Accessible at Gnonnas Pedro, Le « Dadjè » de l’afro-cubain s’est éteint, accessed on July 8, 2012
  3. News: Lusk . Jon . 2004-08-23 . Gnonnas Pedro . live . 2024-08-19 . The Independent.
  4. Accessible at Gnonnas Pedro, Le « Dadjè » de l’afro-cubain s’est éteint ; accessed 8 July 2012.
  5. Accessible at Golden days highlife #13, 13 minutes into MP3, accessed 30 March 2008
  6. Web site: Staff . Billboard . 2004-08-16 . African Artist Gnonnas Pedro Dies Aged 61 . 2024-06-04 . Billboard . en-US.

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