Gnonnan Sossou Pierre Kouassivi, better known as Gnonnas Pedro, was a singer-songwriter, salsero and musician born in Lokossa, Benin.
Gnonnas Pedro had always excelled in many styles of music but if one had to associate him with a particular genre it would be Agbadja. Agbadja is a rhythm hugely popular in Togo, Benin and Ghana, and is used mainly during burial ceremonies. It is based on three percussions, each one of them with a different tone.
Agbadja was born in and dominates a region called Le Mono in the center of Benin and also the birthplace of Gnonnas Pedro. Gnonnas adopted and modernized the rhythm in the mid-1960s calling it “Agbadja Moderne”. It became his trademark and he was soon dubbed “Le Roi du Rhythme Agbadja.” In addition to Agbadja, he also played highlife and juju.
Pedro led his own bands Pedro y sus Panchos, later reforming as Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band, before joining the long-lived Orchestre Poly-rythmo de Cotonou. He sang in many different languages, including Minad, Adja, Yoruba, French, English, and Spanish.
Gnonnas Pedro became well-known internationally as the lead singer of Africando between 1995 and 2004.
Gnonnas Pedro died August 12, 2004 in a hospital in Cotonu, Benin.
Discography
Dadjes: The Band Of Africa (1975)
Gnonnas Pedro (Disco Stock, 1979)
El Cochechivo (Ledoux, 1981)
Gombo Salsa, with Africando (Stern’s Africa STCD1071, 1996)
Baloba, with Africando (Stern’s Africa STCD1082, 1998)
Agbadja (Syllart, 1999)
Irma koi (Syllart, 1999)
Mandali, with Africando (Stern’s Africa STCD1092, 2000)
Live!, with Africando (Sono CDS8907, double CD, 2001)
Martina, with Africando (Stern’s Africa STCD1096, 2003)
The best of Gnonnas Pedro (2003)
Ketukuba, with Africando (Stern’s Africa STCD1103, 2006)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
