"It's been a pleasure flagging up all these different artistes. They deserved a decent send-off. As does TIMJ, so no histrionics from me. This is the penultimate Jam from RIP. I will be back with this feature on "God's Jukebox" at http://www.godsjukebox.com/selections/username/Rest_In_Peace/. Best wishes to all."
Victor Démé was born in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, in 1962, but moved to Ivory Coast during his childhood. He started out working in his father's family clothing business which he had established in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, while young, performing in the various clubs of Abidjan with musicians which included the band 'Super Mandé' and its star artist Abdoulaye Diabaté. His mother was a popular social singer in her hometown during the 1960s.
Démé returned to Burkina Faso in 1988, benefiting from a renewed artistic freedom in the country, and, at the age of 26 he gained fame because of this. His appearance in a special contest by the Bobo-Dioulasso French Cultural Centre in 1989 and his winning the top prize at the National Culture Week in Burkina Faso in 1990 solidified his fame. In the 1990s, he was again nominated for the prize on several occasions.
He played with renowned orchestras, including 'L'Echo de l'Africa' and with 'Suprême Comenba', famous in Ouagadougou. In later years though, Démé was cut off from the arts and had a very tough time returning to the clubs, singing covers of classics made famous by Salif Keita, Mory Kanté and others.
Luckily, he never gave up writing his own songs, bridging a friendship and collaboration with Camille Louvel, the manager of Ouagajungle, a small bar in Ouagadougou that organised collaborative concerts for many talents. In 2007 he received a favourable write-up by a journalist, which resulted in him recording his debut studio album.
It featured the best of his compositions in 'folk' and 'blues', romantic 'mandinka' tunes influenced at times with Latin 'salsa' and 'flamenco' sounds, using 'Dyula', a 'Mande' language used in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Mali. The texts appealed for national solidarity, respect of women, importance of culture and showcasing the richness of his music repertoire and composition. His self-titled album, "Victor Démé", was finally released in 2008, and included his best known song, "Djon Maya".
Louvel, along with David Commeillas, linked up with 'Soundicate' activists Romain Germa and Nicolas Maslowski to found an independent record label, 'Chapa Blues Records', on which Victor Démé was given exposure in the European record-buying markets. He became their first main artist, and sales of the album surpassed 40,000 copies. The British magazine "Songlines" chose it as their "Best Album of the Year 2008".
In France, the album reached No. 76 in the 'SNEP Albums' charts. Démé also performed in other world music venues, including in the UK, Germany and much of Europe, releasing his second album "Deli" in 2010 (also on 'Chapa Blues Records'). That album peaked at No. 138 on the French chart.
9 Comments (since 25 Sep 2015)
rest_in_peace
"It's been a pleasure flagging up all these different artistes. They deserved a decent send-off. As does TIMJ, so no histrionics from me. This is the penultimate Jam from RIP. I will be back with this feature on "God's Jukebox" at http://www.godsjukebox.com/selections/username/Rest_In_Peace/. Best wishes to all."
rest_in_peace
Victor Démé was born in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, in 1962, but moved to Ivory Coast during his childhood. He started out working in his father's family clothing business which he had established in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, while young, performing in the various clubs of Abidjan with musicians which included the band 'Super Mandé' and its star artist Abdoulaye Diabaté. His mother was a popular social singer in her hometown during the 1960s.
rest_in_peace
Démé returned to Burkina Faso in 1988, benefiting from a renewed artistic freedom in the country, and, at the age of 26 he gained fame because of this. His appearance in a special contest by the Bobo-Dioulasso French Cultural Centre in 1989 and his winning the top prize at the National Culture Week in Burkina Faso in 1990 solidified his fame. In the 1990s, he was again nominated for the prize on several occasions.
rest_in_peace
He played with renowned orchestras, including 'L'Echo de l'Africa' and with 'Suprême Comenba', famous in Ouagadougou. In later years though, Démé was cut off from the arts and had a very tough time returning to the clubs, singing covers of classics made famous by Salif Keita, Mory Kanté and others.
rest_in_peace
Luckily, he never gave up writing his own songs, bridging a friendship and collaboration with Camille Louvel, the manager of Ouagajungle, a small bar in Ouagadougou that organised collaborative concerts for many talents. In 2007 he received a favourable write-up by a journalist, which resulted in him recording his debut studio album.
rest_in_peace
It featured the best of his compositions in 'folk' and 'blues', romantic 'mandinka' tunes influenced at times with Latin 'salsa' and 'flamenco' sounds, using 'Dyula', a 'Mande' language used in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Mali. The texts appealed for national solidarity, respect of women, importance of culture and showcasing the richness of his music repertoire and composition. His self-titled album, "Victor Démé", was finally released in 2008, and included his best known song, "Djon Maya".
rest_in_peace
Louvel, along with David Commeillas, linked up with 'Soundicate' activists Romain Germa and Nicolas Maslowski to found an independent record label, 'Chapa Blues Records', on which Victor Démé was given exposure in the European record-buying markets. He became their first main artist, and sales of the album surpassed 40,000 copies. The British magazine "Songlines" chose it as their "Best Album of the Year 2008".
rest_in_peace
In France, the album reached No. 76 in the 'SNEP Albums' charts. Démé also performed in other world music venues, including in the UK, Germany and much of Europe, releasing his second album "Deli" in 2010 (also on 'Chapa Blues Records'). That album peaked at No. 138 on the French chart.
rest_in_peace
Victor Démé died on September 21st 2015 in hospital in Bobo-Dioulasso, after contracting malaria. He was 53. [Translated from: http://www.lesinrocks.com/2015/09/21/musique/mort-du-chanteur-du-burkina-faso-victor-deme-11776129/]