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Coupé-décalé

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Coupé-décalé (French pronunciation: [kupe dekale]) is a type of popular dance music originating in Côte d'Ivoire. Drawing heavily from zouglou and ndombolo with African influences, coupé-décalé is a very percussive style, featuring African samples, deep bass, and repetitive minimalist arrangements.[1][2][3][4]

Coupé-décalé
Stylistic originsZouglou, ndombolo, techno, tribal house, soca, reggae
Cultural originsEarly 2000s
Typical instrumentsPC, turntables, drum machine, vocal

History

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While coupé-décalé is known as Côte d'Ivoire's definitive pop music, it actually began in Paris, created by a group of Ivorian DJs at the Atlantis, an African nightclub in northeast Paris.[5][6] These DJs, known as the 'Jet Set', became popular for their flamboyant style, often showing up at the club with large amounts of cash which they would hand out to audiences on the dance floor. Their aesthetic defined the early sounds of coupé décalé, apparent in the genre's name. In Nouchi (Ivorian slang), coupé means "to cheat" and décalé means to "run away", so coupé-décalé basically means to cheat somebody and run away.[5] The 'somebody' cheated is generally interpreted to mean France or the West/Europe, finding parallels to the idea of "The Man" in American culture. Especially in the beginning, the songs often celebrated those who had used guile to 'make it' abroad. The word boucantier (English: "shoe-maker") was applied to performers with unusual style, as well as to their imitators.[7]

The genre's first hit, "Sagacité" was pioneered by the late Stephane Doukouré a.k.a. Douk Saga, a member of the 'Jet Set', during the post-2002 militaro-political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire.

"[Coupé-décalé ] has become very popular at a time of conflict; in fact, the country, has been going through this protracted political and military crisis, with debilitating social and economic effects".[5]

Although arising from this time of political turmoil, coupé-décalé lyrically addresses topics such as relationships, earning money and maintaining a good mood or 'bonne ambiance'. Much of its lyrics refer to specific dance moves, often referencing current events such as the avian flu dance[8] or Guantanamo (with hand movements imitating hands raised in chains).[9] These global themes could have helped to make coupé-décalé so deeply popular across a politically divided Côte d'Ivoire and spread its influence so far across Africa and the diaspora. there has been a growing interest in coupé décalé. In February 2009, Akwaaba Music released an Ivorian and Ghanaian compilation, one of the first legal worldwide releases of coupé décalé, highlighting some of the recent coupé décalé released in Côte d'Ivoire. The compilation features music by DJ Menza, DJ Bonano, DJ Mix 1er & Eloh DJ and Kedjevara.

Movements within coupé-décalé

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In 2008, Georges Dyoula distinguished 3 waves in the development of coupé-décalé:[10]

  • 1st wave, ~2002–2004: The appearance, success and domination of the JetSet, DJ Allan, DJ Arafat, DJ Jacob, DJ Serpent Noir, DJ Christy-B, DJ Arsenal, Don Mike le Guru, Bloco, Erickson le Zulu, DJ String, DJ Ressource, Shégal Mokonzi, Mama Ministre, Youlés Inter, DJ Jeff, Ayano.
  • 2nd wave, 2005–2006: This period is essentially led by «la danse de la Moto» and dances relating to football (Konami, Drogbacité, Kolocité). The appearance, success and domination of Boulevard DJ, DJ Bombastik, DJ Rodrigue, Shanaka Yakusa, Danny Blue DJ, DJ Gaoussou, Oxxy Norgy, Roland Le Binguiss, Douk Saga, Christina DJ, Le Molare, Solo Béton, Erickson le Zulu, DJ Zidane, Ligue DJ, DJ Disconty, Kilabongo, PS One DJ.
  • 3rd wave – 2006–2010: The 3rd wave includes the most new artists and new derivative styles of dance. This wave is also associated with a ‘Congolization’ of rhythms, lyrics and artists. The appearance, success and domination of DJ Lewis, DJ Bonano, DJ Roi Lion, Francky Dicaprio, Flamzy DJ, Joscar DJ, DJ Mix, Elloh DJ, DJ Phéno, Mustapha Al Kabila, Mareshal DJ, Harmony, Maty Dollar, Linda de Lindsay, Ronaldo R9, DJ TV3, Debordeaux DJ, Erickson le Zulu, Dollar-R, Miki Dollar, TPJ New Version, Jean-jacques Kouamé, Abou Nidal.

Socio-political interpretations

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In 2005, Vladimir Cagnolari suggested that the music is a way Ivorians are coping with their unstable political situation.

"For a few hours, the rooms is transformed into an ephemeral temple of festival/party, using carefreeness and amusement to counter the socio-political problems of a country still waiting for peace. ... In a musical landscape dominated by patriotic and military music, coupé-décalé arrives like a breath of fresh air to forget the difficult context in which Ivorians are living."[11]

In 2006, Dominik Kohlhagen wrote:

"Over the past three years, coupé-décalé has become one of the most thriving forms of popular music in francophone Africa. Produced by people who claim to have achieved "success" abroad, coupé-décalé represents "elsewhere" as a site from which one can achieve a certain status in consumer society so as to return home to be celebrated. This music expresses generationel transformations that affect lifestyles in Africa as well as ways of projecting oneself in the world."[12]

Artists

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The prominent artists of coupé-décalé are Douk-Saga (Doukouré) with its Jet Set, DJ Brico, DJ Arsenal, Papa Ministre with his famous tune "Coupé-Décalé Chinois", David Tayorault, Afrika Reprezenta, and many other talented Ivorian artists. DJ Lewis is a particularly notable singer, famous for his Grippe Aviaire Dance (en: avian flu dance).[8]

In 2005, Jessy Matador decided to create his own group called La Sélésao composed of members Dr. Love, Linho and Benkoff. The same members also formed the first edition of the group Magic System. In late 2007, they signed with Oyas Records before signing with Wagram Records in spring 2008. They released their début single "Décalé Gwada" in June 2008, becoming one of the hits of that summer. On 24 November 2008, the group released the album Afrikan New Style, a musical hybrid of African and Caribbean influences with more urban sounds. The style includes influences of zouk, dancehall, reggae, hip hop, coupé-décalé, ndombolo and kuduro. In June 2013, an upbeat dance song was released on YouTube by Minjin titled "Coupé-Décalé". It featured Iyanya, a Nigerian artist famous for his hit single "Kukere".

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gninyomo, Luc (21 August 2021). "What Is the Famous Ivorian Music, Coupé-décalé?". Sheen Magazine. Fountain Inn, South Carolina, United States. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  2. ^ Rémy, Jean-Philippe (17 October 2006). "Douk Saga, artiste ivoirien" [Douk Saga, Ivorian artist]. Le Monde.fr (in French). Paris, France. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  3. ^ Eyre, Banning (26 April 2018). "The State of Congolese Music 2018: An Interview with Lubangi Muniania". Afropop Worldwide. Brooklyn, New York City, New York State, United States. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Coupé Décalé with Oulouy". www.dance.nyc. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Mitter, Siddhartha. afropop.org The Hip Hop Generation: Ghana's Hip Life and Ivory Coast's Coupé-Decalé. Accessed July 10, 2008. Archived September 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ McDonnell, John (2008-11-18). "Although Coupé-Décalé is most popular in the Ivory Coast, it actually emerged from a nightclub in Paris called the Atlantis". Guardian. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  7. ^ "Ange Farot: L'éleveur de chien devenu un phénomène à Abidjan. Tout sur sa vie du boucantier - Le Point Sur". Le Point Sur (in French). 2014-09-06. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  8. ^ a b DJ Lewis. (January 30, 2007) YouTube (Côte d'Ivoire) DJ Lewis – Grippe Aviaire. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  9. ^ Guantanamo. (March 16, 2007) YouTube Coupe Decale – Guantanamo. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  10. ^ Dyoul, Georges. france-metisse.fr Écrit par Georges Dyoula. Accessed July 10, 2008. Archived June 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Cagnolari, Vladimir. (June 18, 2005) rfimusique.com Le coupé décalé s'envole au Bataclan. Retour sur une chaude soirée (translated: The half-compartment shifted s' fly away in Bataclan. Return on a hot evening.) Accessed July 10, 2008
  12. ^ Dominik, Kohlhagen (December 2005 – January 2006). Politique africaineFrime, escroquerie et cosmopolitisme. Le succès du « coupé-décalé » en Afrique et ailleurs.(translated: Display, fraud and cosmopolitanism. Success in Africa and beyond.) Page 92. No. 100.
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