The people of the Ivory Coast have a reputation for demanding the highest quality music.
Monique Seka, coming from a family of musicians (her father is well known in music circles in Abidjan), does not disappoint with this album. The opening title track is what the repeat button on you compact disc player was made for. "Okaman" was a huge hit in Africa, Paris, the French Antilles and New York City world music clubs. One listen will tell your hips why. Monique Seka's voice has an almost ethereal sacredness combined with a sensual silkiness. The trio of
Edith Lefel, singer with
Malavoi,
Marie-Celine Chrone and
Jean-Paul Pognon (all from Guadeloupe/Martinique) provide solid backing vocals for her fine lead vocal work.
Manu Lima, a Cape Verdean who has worked with many of the top African artists, does the arrangements and programmation. The crisp horn section is comprised of top-shelf studio musicians in Paris. Syran Benza's (Congo) guitar work sparks as does the accompanying guitar work of Lokassa Ya Mbongo,
Yves N'djock and
Dominique Jenjoul. With support of this quality, this album was slated for success from its inception. It is a masterly blend of afro-zouk and soukous mixed with a generous dollop of funk aimed at the dance floor. "Mefiez-vous" is a driving soukous track that combines zouk influences. "Nayomisso" starts with a hymn-like vocal solo by
Monique Seka and then "la changement" turns on the funk full throttle. A standout release of 1995 and destined to become a classic.