Soum Bill

Soumahoro Ben Mamadou was born in Aboisso, Comeo, the southern region of Ivory Coast. His mother is Agni, an Ivorian ethnic group from Aboisso, and his father is Dioula, an ethnic group from Seguela. This combination gave him an education in respect and tolerance.

After growing up in Yopougon, the working-class district of Abidjan, and Treichville, he feels more and more attracted to music, betting on this hereditary predisposition from his grandmother, a traditional singer.

He made his first steps as a percussionist in several groups of "easy ambience", a music animation performed by the young people from Ivory Cost with tam-tam and bells at different occasions (such as funerals, group journeys and football/soccer games). Soumahoro Ben Mamadou changed his name to Soum Bill when he joined the group Mini Choc in 1989. Soon he became part of the Zouglou movement, a movement named after a type of music based on the traditional rhythm and dance of Youfaseur.

After leaving Mini Choc, Soum Bill created the band Les Garagistes singing lead vocals. His latest group is called Les Salopards. —Courtesy Calabash Music