Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band – Roi De L’Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983 (Analog Africa, 2025)
Gnonnas Pedro, the Beninese icon who modernized Agbadja (a percussive genre from Benin) while mixing Cuban son (son cubano), highlife, jerk, and various West African styles, finally receives a dedicated retrospective. After his inclusion in Legends of Benin (2009), Analog Africa now presents Roi De L’Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983, a comprehensive 16-track collection spanning Pedro’s recordings from 1974 to 1983.
This double-LP release comes in a gatefold sleeve with an eight-page booklet featuring rare photographs. Pedro’s multilingual compositions, performed in Fon, Mina, Yoruba, French, English, and Spanish, solidified his reputation across western Africa. His ability to seamlessly fuse traditional rhythms with global influences earned him the title “Roi de l’Agbadja Moderne” (king of modern Agbadja).
Born in 1943 in Cotonou (Benin), Pedro lost his father at 13 and immersed himself in music, mentored by the influential Beninese musician El Rego (Theophile Do Rego). His breakthrough came in a music competition where he captivated audiences despite a power outage. This tenacity led to his first single in 1964 and, soon after, the modernized Agbadja classic “Dadje Von O Von Non.“
During the 1970s, political shifts in Benin influenced his music, but his popularity soared in Nigeria, where he released multiple albums under Lagos-based labels. His ability to sing in multiple languages earned him the moniker “The Band That Speaks All African Languages.” In 1980, he launched his own label, Gnoinsopé, producing hits like “Yiri Yiri Boum.“
Benin’s music industry declined in the mid-1980s, but Pedro’s career revived in the 1990s when he joined the popular act Africando, an all-star Pan-African salsa band. His re-recordings of 1970s classics gained new audiences beyond Africa, and he performed with the group until his final days.
Diagnosed with cancer in 2003, Pedro continued touring until his condition worsened. After undergoing multiple surgeries in France, he returned to Benin in August 2004, passing away at the age of 61. His influence endures, and this long-overdue retrospective cements his place as a pioneer of modern Beninese music.
Buy Roi De L’Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983.
Author: Tyler Bennet
