Florent Belemgnegré, better known by his stage name Floby, is a
Burkinabé singer and musician. He sings in the
French
French may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France
** French people, a nation and ethnic group
** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices
Arts and media
* The French (band), ...
and
Mòoré languages. His music uses African sounds such as the
kora and
djembe
A djembe or jembe ( ; from Maninka language, Malinke ''jembe'' , N'Ko script, N'Ko: ) is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.
According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe ...
but also rap and electric guitar.
He is also known by the nicknames ''le King Zodanga'', ''le Papa des Orphelins'' and ''le Kirikou d’Afrique''.
Life and career
Belemgnegré was born in the
Bingerville
Bingerville is a town in south-eastern Ivory Coast. It is a suburb of Abidjan city and one of four sub-prefectures of Abidjan Autonomous District. Bingerville is also a commune. The town is located about 10 kilometres east of Abidjan and lies ...
suburb of
Abidjan
Abidjan ( , ; N'Ko script, N'ko: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the largest city and the former capital of Ivory Coast. As of the Demographics of Ivory Coast, 2021 census, Abidjan's population was 6.3 million, which is 21.5 percent of the overall population ...
,
Côte d'Ivoire
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest city and ...
.
At age five, he moved to Burkina Faso and lived with grandmother, who was a
griot
A griot (; ; Manding languages, Manding: or (in N'Ko script, N'Ko: , or in French spelling); also spelt Djali; or / ; ) is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician. Griots are masters of communicatin ...
.
On 15 January 2017, Floby was made ''Noom Naaba'' or "Chief of the Atmosphere" of
Andemtenga, in
Kouritenga Province
Kouritenga (sometimes spelt Kourittenga) is one of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso, located in its Centre-Est Region. In 2019, the province had a population of 479,930. , by the customary canton chief.
Personal life
, Floby has one daughter.
Awards
Floby received two Kundé awards each in 2007,
2015 and 2016 and won the Golden Kundé in 2010.
Discography
Studio albums
*''Mam Sooré'' (''My Way)''
(2006)
*''Wuilgui Maam'' (''Guide Me)''
(2009)
*''Wend'mi'' (2012)
*''M'pengda Wendé'' (2015)
*''Wakato'' (2018)
*''Wend'so'' (2021)
Extended plays/maxi singles
*''Be Positif EP'' (2014)
Singles
* ''Tu me connais (You know me)'' (2016)
*Sugar Daddy (feat
Tanya) (2021)
References
Living people
Burkinabe male singers
Year of birth missing (living people)
21st-century Burkinabe people
Relevant literature
* Yaogo, Gérard. "LA PLACE DU PROVERBE DANS LES CHANSONS DE FLOBY." ''DJIBOUL'' Spécial N°06 304 – 319. 2022
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