Togbe Agbodjan Jad Fozis

Togbe Agbodjan Jad Fozis (born 3 December 1971), abbreviated TAJF and formerly Jad Fozis, born François Djadoo[1][2][3] is a reggae musician, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Togo. He was one of the first leaders of the Rastafari movement in Togo.[4]

Togbe Agbodjan Jad Fozis
Birth nameFrançois Djadoo
Born (1971-12-03) 3 December 1971 (age 52)
Lomé
OriginTogo
GenresReggae
ska
rocksteady
folk
Rhythm and blues
Dancehall
rock and roll
Afro
Occupation(s)Musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Voice
guitar
piano
percussions
Years active1980 – present
LabelsTAJF
Websitewww.jadfozis.com

He was born in the town of Lomé.[5][6][7] He sings revolutionary activist songs for peace and freedom in French, English and Ewe, touring Africa, Europe and the United States.[8]

Biography

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Childhood and studies

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Togbe Agbodjan Jad Fozis grew up in Lomé between 1971 and 1980. His mother was a chorister who encouraged him to sing, and he became passionate about interpreting the songs of Ray Charles and Bob Marley at the age of 11.[4]

Beginning of career

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He started out as a self-taught musician in 1980, playing rock and roll and joining a number of bands. He formed the Crazy Boys group during school performances. During the 1980s, he turned to reggae as a means of speaking out for the voiceless through his music. His committed style of music led to his exile in 1990.

Careers in Germany

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In 1990, he arrived in Europe and stayed first in Denmark. A few years later, he moved to Germany to perfect his skills and officially became a singer-songwriter, where he remains to this day.[9] He formed the group Vanity System, which disbanded in January 2002, but it was in 1995 that he really began his professional career with his first album, SOS Africa, and the song Gbékuia (remixed) afterwards in 2020, which gave him international fame, and he became a member of the Hamburg-based Jamaican group The Lion.

Discography

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Singles

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  • Togolais de même sang
  • Maman

Concerts and stages

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Events

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  • 1998 : Guest appearance by Claudy Siar on RFI's Couleurs Tropicales.
  • 2023 : Musician invited by Omusawo Tintah aka Male Deogratius on the Dancehall Strictly on Tagy Television.[8]
  • Guest on the programme hosted by Félix Mandon on Africa N°1 where he rubs shoulders with Papa Wemba.
  • Guest of Boncana Maïga in the Star Parade program on TV5 Monde.[16]

Personal life

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His father died on March 7, 2022, and then his mother died on February 2, 2023, following a heart attack at the age of 70, to whom he often dedicated his songs.[17]

Recognition

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Rewards

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Musique: Un 8e opus de Jad Fozis pour ses 25 ans de carrière" (PDF). www.republicoftogo.com (in French) (397). Lomé: Le médium Hebdomadaire d'informations du 16 au 22 juin 2020, # société, Politique, Economie, Développement, Culture Togolais: 5. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2023-06-07..
  2. ^ a b c Adjogblé Haka (2022-03-01). "Togo-L'artiste Togbé Agbodjan Jad Fozis en concert live à Cotonou". icilome.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  3. ^ "Actualités, art de la scène, Art visuel, Audiovisuelle, Communiqués, littérature, Musique". butodra.tg (in French). 2021-08-30. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  4. ^ a b Nago Seck (7 May 2007). "Djadoo Kossi, Jad Fozis". afrisson.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  5. ^ Togo: les larmes de l'artiste Jad Fozis (HD) (in French). Togo: Pia Africa. 2020-10-08. Event occurs at 4 minutes 06 et 4 secondes. vw3qVDOah18. Retrieved 2023-07-06. YouTube
  6. ^ a b Souljah. "Biographie, Fozis". reggae.fr (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  7. ^ Louis Kamako (2023-07-06). "Jad Fozis présente son 8e album Ata au public en pleurs". togobreakingnews.info (in French). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  8. ^ a b c "Omusawo Tintah to host Togolese singer Togbe Agbodjan Jad Fozis on Tagy Tv". trustednewsug.com. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  9. ^ "Art et culture, sortie d'album Jad Fozis". alome.com (in French). 2013-10-28. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  10. ^ a b "Togbe Agbodjan Jad Fozis". music.apple.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  11. ^ "Musique : Jad Fozis lance "Oh Africa" pour conscientiser les africains". lavoixdelanation.info (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  12. ^ "Les rappeurs". microscopik.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  13. ^ "Togo-L'artiste Togbui Agbodjan Jad Fozis en concert live à Cotonou". togotribune.com (in French). Togo Tribune. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  14. ^ "T. A. Jad Fozis : un nouveau single et deux concerts en ce début d'année". soculart.com (in French). Soculart. 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  15. ^ S.A (2020-06-16). "Musique : Pour ses 25 ans de carrière, Jad Fozis lance son 8ème album". togoactualite.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  16. ^ "Stars parade : Magazine (magazine musical) de 31min". togotribune.com (in French). TV5 monde. March 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  17. ^ Nago Seck (2022-03-07). "Togbe Agbodjan Jad Fozis est en deuil". soculart.com (in French). Soculart. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  18. ^ "Togo/Heroes 228 : voici la liste de tous les nominés pour cette année 2020 !". gnadoemedia.com (in French). Gnadoè Média. 2020-11-14. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  19. ^ "Togo / All Music Awards : liste des lauréats dans les différentes catégories". l-frii.com (in French). La Rédaction. 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  20. ^ "All Music Awards 2020 : Les lauréats de la 17e edition". lapagedesartistestogolais.com (in French). La Rédaction. 2020-12-23. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  21. ^ M, Bach (2023-12-01). "Togo/All Music Awards 2023 : voici la liste de tous les artistes nominés - YOP L-FRII". YOP L-FRII (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  22. ^ "Togo/All Music Awards 2023 : La liste des artistes nominés révélée - Gnadoe" (in French). 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
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