Sinsemilia (), also known as Sinsé, is a French

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

band that was formed in

Grenoble Grenoble ( ; ; or ; or ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Isère Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region ...

Isère Isère ( , ; ; , ) is a landlocked Departments of France, department in the southeastern French Regions of France, region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Named after the river Isère (river), Isère, it had a population of 1,271,166 in 2019.

in 1990. The name of the group is very similar to sinsemilla, referring to

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...

which is unfertilised and hence seedless (literally "without seed" in Spanish). The band first used this name in concert at the

Fête de la Musique The Fête de la Musique, also known in English as Music Day, Make Music Day, or World Music Day, is an annual music celebration that takes place on 21 June. On Music Day, citizens and residents are urged to play music outside in their neighborho ...

in 1991, referring to the reggae album ''Sinsemilia'' by

Black Uhuru Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru ( Swahili for 'freedom'). The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Derrick "Duckie" Simpson as the mainstay. They had their most successful pe ...

. This was the first of more than a thousand concerts, and in the following fifteen years more than one million albums have been sold. Since the success of their first album and their single "Tout le bonheur du monde", Sinsemilia has helped French reggae gain the attention of the media. In 2005, because of the success of "Tout le bonheur du monde", they were invited by the editors of

France 2 France 2 () is a French free-to-air public television channel. The flagship channel of France Télévisions, it broadcasts generalist programming including news, entertainment (such as dramas, films, and game shows), factual programmes, and sp ...

to appear on the 1:00 pm news. They began their performance by singing "Tout le bonheur du monde" but quickly interrupted it to then sing their politically charged song "Bienvenue en Chiraquie", which provoked a small media scandal.

Members

; Current members * Riké –

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

(1990–present) * Mike – lead vocals, guitar (1990–present) * Moussaya – guitar (1990–present) * Natty –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

(1990–present) * Zazz – keyboards (1990–present) * Fabin –

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...

(1990–present) * Carine –

alto saxophone The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgians, Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in the key of E♭ ( ...

(1990–present) * Ivan –

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...

(1990–present) * Roukin – percussion (1990–present) * Chid – sound effects (1990–present) * Olivah – trumpet (2003–present) * Bozo –

tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (whi ...

(2005–present) * Ali – keyboards (2008–present) * Nordine – guitar (2008–present) ; Former members * Loucos – tenor saxophone (1990–2005)

Discography

* 1996 ''Première Récolte'' * 1998 ''Résistances'' * 2000 ''Tout C'Qu'On A'' * 2002 ''Sinsemilia Part en Live'' * 2004 ''Debout, Les Yeux Ouverts'' * 2009 ''En Quête De Sens'' * 2015 ''Un Autre Monde Est Possible''

Band member activities outside of Sinsemilia

In June 2003, Riké released a solo album called ''Air frais'' ("Fresh Air"), with more traditional French music. The lyrics of this album were written by Mike, Riké's childhood friend. The lyrics are considered by many to be moving, and are less politically engaged than the group's albums. The song "Reveillez-Vous" features

Tiken Jah Fakoly Doumbia Moussa Fakoly (born June 23, 1968 in Odienné), better known by his stage name Tiken Jah Fakoly (), is an Ivorian reggae singer and songwriter. Early life Doumbia Moussa Fakoly was born on 23 June 1968 in Odienné, Kabadougou Region, ...

. Riké released a single after ''Air Frais'' with the song "Allez Savoir Pourquoi", which is of the "hardline" variety. His second album ''Vivons!'' was released on January 29, 2007. Mike began his label ECHOPROD, and has signed artists such as Les Suprêmes Dindes, Pep's, Djemdi, Riké, and Junior Tshaka. The first release by his label was "Pas Vus à la Télé", a compilation of 70 French groups from all genres, with the hope of promoting artists who have never appeared on television. Ivan works as a sound engineer for Wareika Hills, a reggae group from Grenoble. Fafa sings with Yoanna, a young Swiss singer who is accompanied by a group from Grenoble. Zazz is producing

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

. Bozo is present in some parts of Root'Secours' latest album, ''Enfant Soldats''. Olivah has worked exclusively with JFK, a reggae group from Grenoble. He has produced and arranged a CD of 7 songs called ''Politricks''. Natty and the Special Hommage Band (made up of musicians from Grenoble and Zazz and Roukin) have given many

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...

tribute concerts.

References

External links

Official site
{{Authority control French reggae musical groups Musical groups established in 1990 Organizations based in Grenoble Musical groups from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes