Hip-notic

Dobet Gnahore writes French, sings pan-African and fancies Gandhi

The Capital's undergoing a mix fix. Dobet Gnahore, an Ivory Coast singer and songwriter, is in the capital to present a Mandingue melodies, rumba, zulu choirs andu00a0 jazz -- a combination as rare as rapturous. Her music is funky yet delicate, and has a touch of tradition you won't get to see anytime soon again. The Guideu00a0caught up.

So what's your style, really?
I'm inspired by the Panafrican style that spreads through most regions of Africa -- Ivory Coast, Mali, South Africa.u00a0 My musical base is acoustic; I play with acoustic guitar, bass guitar and drum/percussion. Since I learned voice, music and theatre at the same time, I put in a lot of emotions and choreography in my music.

Hmm. That makes you sound different from compatriot crooners.
I don't think I'm different from other African singers; I just express my feelings in the texts, with some ideas inspired from news. I try to keep my country's spirit alive in the style of my clothes that are very colourful, the musical rhythms, and also some
choreography.

Do traditional African elements inspire you?
In plastic arts, you can see some of those elements in modern paintings, sculpture, and fabric. I think there's a lot of richness in Africa and that can inspire may different people from different parts of the world.

What's the language of your songs?
I write in French. Some friends translate it into different languages, but I cannot speak them. My choice was to sing for different cultures. This is the soul of Panafricanism -- a way to maintaib a link with the whole continent, where I don't live anymore. I also learn music in an artistic community in Ivory Coast that encourages cross-cultural exchange.

What'd you have been if not a singer?
I wanted to be a singer since childhood, and musicians like my father, who was a famous percussionist in the artistic village in Abidjan, helped me. Even if I weren't into this, I would've been part of the cultural domain.
I really like to dance; I am also interested in paintings and designing clothes.

What has been your inspiration?
The first person to have inspired me was my father, and then famous African artistes like Myriam Makeba among others.

What do you think of India?
It's my first trip here. I read several books about Gandhi and I am interested by the cultures and the philosophies of this land. Musically, tabla fascinates me a lot. I even tried to play a bit of at home. And discovered it ain't easy!
u00a0
What's next, after your gig in India?
The release of my third album in a few months. I'll continue to be on the road for concerts as much as possible, and hope to meet interesting musicians from the world over.

Where: Kamani Auditorium, 1, Mandi House, Copernicus Marg
When: Today, 8 pm onwards