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Côte d'Ivoire
Dobet Gnahoré Lyrics

J'suis ivoirien de père et de mère
Te cache pas, viens voir, viens visiter
Nos terres et nos mères
Oublie la guerre, nos frères entrecoupés
Ici on décale, on a coupé
T'as pas d'habits, va à Kouté
On s'embrouille pas, viens goûter
Nos pommes de terre

Le soleil brille comme le sourire d'un enfant qui apprend à

Se mettre sur ses
Deux pieds
On grandit mais d'après eux on y voit rien mais avec ses
Ivoires il nous défend
À partager il a tellement d'affection
Oui ma Côte d'Ivoire, tu sais qu'on est fans
Yafoye, Yafoye elle prend soin de nous

Ma Côte d'Ivoire, pays lumineux
Ma Côte d'Ivoire, pays d'amour, d'hospitalité
Chère terre d'Ivoire, jamais je ne penserai te quitter

Pays aux milles couleurs
Notre histoire a commencé dans ton coeur
Ma Côte d'Ivoire voyage au soleil
Ivoiriens, nous sommes tous pareils
Pays de renaissance

Nous irons dans ton sens, car
Tu as le coeur généreux

Ma Côte d'Ivoire, pays lumineux
Ma Côte d'Ivoire, pays d'amour, d'hospitalité
Chère terre d'Ivoire, jamais je ne penserai te quitter

Côte d'Ivoire, mon joli pays
Ne me parle plus jamais de treillis
Ne me parle plus jamais de guerre, on ne connaît que ta
Paix
On n'écoutera plus jamais ces V. I.
Pays des champions d'Afrique (Éléphants)
Qui a la côte et le fric
Y'a beaucoup de sous, on s'amuse en boîte, y'a beaucoup de
Belles filles

Côte d'Ivoire, c'est mon pays
Terre de pure qualité
Negro je vis ici
Je vais jamais le renier
Xxx
On est dans le big 13
On veut tous être développé
Faut juste qu'on garde la paix
Ma Côte d'Ivoire, pays lumineux
Ma Côte d'Ivoire, pays d'amour, d'hospitalité
Chère terre d'Ivoire, jamais je ne penserai te quitter

Writer(s): dobet gnahoré

Contributed by Mila T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Dobet Gnahoré, a singer, dancer and percussionist from the Ivory Coast, inherited the force of the “Bété“ tradition from her father, Boni Gnahoré, a master percussionist who plays with the Abidjan-based Ki-Yi Mbock Company, directed by Werewere Liking.

It was within this Ivory Coast-based company that Dobet met French guitarist Colin Laroche de Féline. Having spent some time in the well-known Tché Tché dance company, Dobet decided with Colin (in 1999) to form a duo Read Full BioDobet Gnahoré, a singer, dancer and percussionist from the Ivory Coast, inherited the force of the “Bété“ tradition from her father, Boni Gnahoré, a master percussionist who plays with the Abidjan-based Ki-Yi Mbock Company, directed by Werewere Liking.

It was within this Ivory Coast-based company that Dobet met French guitarist Colin Laroche de Féline. Having spent some time in the well-known Tché Tché dance company, Dobet decided with Colin (in 1999) to form a duo, Ano Neko, which means “Let’s create together“ in Bété language. The duo toured widely in France (1999-2000) where they settled temporarily. They also worked together on the creation with Ba Cissoko of “Le Cabaret Nomade“ and “L’Entre Deux Monde“.

When they returned to Abidjan in 2001, they took part in the MASA Off festival and, while they were there, recorded eight songs under the supervision of the late Marcellin Yacé.

In 2003, their artistic project refocused on Dobet Gnahoré and expanded when a backup vocalist and a percussionist joined them. They produced her first album entitled “Ano Neko“. This CD comprises songs recorded in Abidjan and others recorded in Belgium during the summer of 2003.

From Mandingue melodies to Congolese rumba, from Ivory Coast Ziglibiti to Cameroon Bikoutsi, from Ghanian High-Life to Zulu choirs, their compositions, carried along with jazz-like sounds, are varied and colourful. The sanza, the balafon, the calebasse and bongos are brought in to support the guitar, the vocal backup and Dobet’s warm and powerful voice...

Dobet sings in a range of African languages including Bété, Fon, Baoule, Lingala, Malinke, Mina or Bambara, thereby reproducing the Pan-African tradition of the Ki Yi Mbock group.