(b Dimbokro, Côte d'Ivoire, 1 Jan 1953). West African singer. He is known for his performances of Afro-Reggae. He and his band Solar System sing in French, English, Arabic, Hebrew and Dioula. Unlike the lyrics of Jamaican reggae, Blondy's lyrics are primarily political; his songs often concern issues of freedom, unity and social revolution. His first single, Brigadier Sabari, documents his experience of being arrested in Abidjan in the 1980s and his subsequent mistreatment by the police. He received the Senghor prize for ‘Best African Group’ in 1986, and in the same year one of his most popular recordings, Jerusalem, was released; this recording and Apartheid is Nazism established his position as a leading European recording artist. After his successful tour of North America many regarded Blondy as the successor to Bob Marley.
Cocody Rock, Pathé Marconi EMI 24 0233 1 (1984)
Apartheid is Nazism, Pathé Marconi EMI 24 0449 1 (1985)
Jerusalem, Pathé Marconi EMI 24 0664 1 (1986)
Revolution, Pathé Marconi EMI 74 8655 1 (1987)
Prophet, Pathé Marconi EMI 79 1793 1 (1989)
Masada, Pathé Marconi EMI 79 8620 2 (1992)
Dieu, Alpha Blondy Solar System Productions EMI 829847 2 (1994)
Best of Alpha Blondy, Shanachie 43075 (1990)
GREGORY F. BARZ