Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Yeleen

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Yeleen
(Burkina Faso)

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Yeleen is probably the most famous and influential rap and hip hop group from Burkina Faso and even from West Africa. Found by Burkinabe Smarty ( Kiekieta Louis Salif) and Chadian Célestin Mawndoe, they are known for the engagement reflected in their lyrics, addressing issues as Aids and drug-related problems, neo-colonialism and the marginalised position of the youth. Their music uses elements from Africa and from the West, and is remarkably melodic.

In 2001, they made a first cassette, « Juste 1 peu 2 Lumière », recorded in Smockey's Studio Abazon. It made a big impact in Burkina Faso but also abroad. They represented their country at the 2002 Kora Awards ceremony. In 2003, they were already quite known among African rap and hip hop lovers, they toured in Europe, not the least at the Festival Mundial in the Netherlands. In December of the same year, at the occasion of the release of their second album « Dieu seul sait », they organised the 72 heures de Yeleen, 3 days of concerts by themselves as well as by various guests such as Faso Kombat, Smockey, Basic Soul, Madson Junior, all from Burkina, FAC Alliance from Guinea, Yalad from Chad, and many others. A third cassette came out in 2006, and in April 2007, they won the Kunde d'Or award in Burkina Faso, a national award they lost in 2004 against Amity Meria.

In the summer of 2007, they are in France, touring on various festivals in Europe, and also to record. On 27 September 2007, a first international CD release is announced, with the title « Juste un peu de lumière ».

Yeleen consists of:
Smarty rap
Mawndoué lead vocals

Sources used:
Yeleen on Myspace
Dr Daniel Künzler, Hip Hop-movements in Mali and Burkina Faso: The local adaptation of a global culture

Created: in 2000 by Smarty (Kiekieta Louis Salif) and Célestin Mawndoe from Chad
Style: hip hop, rap, afro-soul.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Dar Es Salam	2006
Dieu seul sait	2003
Juste 1 peu 2 Lumière	2001	Seydoni	Cassette