The band AKEÏKOI was created in 2000 as a collective originally named « Akeïkoi From Connexion », combination of 2 bands : Caline Gerorgette and Yelemba d'Abidjan.
This formation comes from the encounter between the Livenais brothers (from somewhere between entre Nantes and Angers) and Lassina Coulibaly whose HQ is based in « Akeïkoi » a suburb of Abidjan.
Speed rock and funk band, Caline Georgette was noticed on stage for their energy and originality. Caline Georgette played more than 400 concerts between 1992 and 1995 in Europe and France, namely an amazing show at 1993 Printemps de Bourges festival.
Working on the sounds of the soul, talented and determined musician, following their 1st album « Des clous », the 3 Livenais brothers worked with multiple musicians with various influences, interested in world musics and travelled a lot in Africa.
In 1994, they meet Togo singer Jimi Hope and tour in France with him (Francofolies of La Rochelle and Togo and Benin tour in 1995).
With Jimi Hope they record the unique and collector record « Tôt ou tard », already announcing the birth of African rock showing a different vision of the mixing of cultures. In Abidjan district « Akeïkoi », Lassina Coulibaly - multi talented artist of Sénoufo origins and masterfully trained - settles to form troupe Yelemba in 1995, with the help of Nantes association Planète Tam Tam.
Between tradition and modernity, Yelemba work and re-visit the rich multi-ethnical repertoire of Ivory Coast. Exceptional musicians, dancers, singers and actors, these complete artists present their shows in Europe and all around the world. Five of these musicians (from Ivory Coast, Guinea and Burkina Faso) conducted by Harouna Dembélé head drummer of the troupe, will explore new ways among AKEÏKOI, bringing their rhythms traditional singing (in Sénoufo, Dioula), their percussions, as well as sacred instruments rarely heard in this world, like boloyes. This sound laboratory leaves a large space for performances, dance and show.
After several years of artistic discovery and musical adaptation between the members of the collective, the 1st album by AKEÏKOI « Binkafô » is released in 2002 by label Hors-Normes Productions, followed by a world tour in 2003 and 2004. « Binkafô » is the album of the encounter between 2 worlds meant to cohabit; the worlds of rough rock and ethnic African music. The recording is only made of live takes which just feeds the band's experience in a greater and complete manner.
The Ivory Coast conflict will disturb the band's work for 2 years ; but the depth of the project, its creative intensity and its musicians determination will allow AKEÏKOI to surface again with unquestioned artistic maturity and the biggest motivation to carry their project on all the stages of the world.
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