Ibrahima Sylla (2 April 1956 – 30 December 2013) was a Senegalese record producer born in Ivory Coast and founder of the African music label Syllart Records. He was a musician whose production and music direction defined popular African music. From West African dance, to Congolese Soukous (sung in Lingala), to melodic griot-led songs, Sylla's signature as a music producer is unmistakable. He has demonstrated his familiarity with many contemporary African musical genres, and he has worked with most of Africa's musical greats.

Biography

Sylla was born in the Ivory Coast, into a prominent family; his father was Guinean (French Guinea) and was an influential public figure who was well known in West Africa, and whose work took the family to Dakar in

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

. Sylla developed his love for music whilst studying at a university in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, France. He released compilation albums of his favorite Salsa music, and from 1980 he embarked on record production work. He financed an album by Étoile de Dakar, featuring Youssou N'Dour and Orchestra Baobab. It was in Paris that Sylla developed working relationships with Africa's upcoming musicians, many of whom were living there. Sylla has worked with many of Africa's contemporary musicians and he has demonstrated finesse in his production of their music. He worked with many of

Zaire Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire, was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 18 May 1997. Located in Central Africa, it was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria, and the 11th-la ...

's (now the

Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

) greats, including: Les Quatre Etoiles - the renowned DRC group consisting of Soukous greats Bopol, Wuta Mayi, Syran and Nyboma; Pepe Kalle, Sam Mangwana, Tshala Muana, Mbilia Bel, and others. Sylla developed the Soukous concept of tingling, repeated, guitar melodies, adding orchestral harmonies, innovative key changes, and introducing tinges of Salsa music. An example of this can be experienced in his production of Nyboma's groundbreaking solo album, ''Anicet''. Zairean Soukous music is highly popular across Africa, South America, and among World Music fans in the West. Sylla's Soukous productions are still celebrated, and they continue to influence the shape and direction of African dance music. Sylla's production excellence is also demonstrated by his productions of West African dance music, such as in Oumou Dioubate's albums, and in his direction of Malian and Senegalese griot-led songs. He has also worked with Baaba Maal, Bako Dagnon, Ismael Lo, Pape Seck, Oumou Sangare, Gnonnàs Pedro, Kouyate Sory Kandia, Bembeya Jazz, Fanta Damba, Cape Verde Show, Alpha Blondy,

Africando Africando is a musical project formed in 1992 to unite New York City, New York–based salsa music, salsa musicians with Senegalese vocalists. Musicians from other African countries were later included under the name Africando All Stars. Salsa has ...

, and Miriam Makeba. A recent compilation of his work, the five-album ''20 Years History - The Very Best of Syllart Productions'' (Son
Sterns
, introduces new listeners to Sylla's work.

References

External links

2001 interview with Ibrahim Sylla
(archived) {{DEFAULTSORT:Sylla, Ibrahim Ivorian musicians Ivorian record producers Place of birth missing 1956 births 2013 deaths Ivorian emigrants to Senegal