Raised to the rank of knight of the national order by Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, this year they celebrate the ten-year career of their group with two concerts in their country, in Bouaké and Abidjan. This is an opportunity to present their new songs from their fourth album to their audience. Titled “Tapé dos” in Côte d’Ivoire, it has been renamed “Ki Dit Mie” for the international market!
The 4 members of the group draw their inspiration from the Zouglou movement, an Ivorian cultural movement that encompasses both music and dance, which allows young Ivorians to describe the problems and issues of the society they live in.
Asalfo, Goudé, Manadia, and Tino, the four kids from Marcory in Abidjan, had barely formed their group “Woyo vocal,” when they accepted the appealing offer of a sponsor: to be called Maggi Cube System. Ah, the Maggi cube! The sacrosanct broth, an indispensable sauce base for any respected African dish; there are no pure coincidences…
Indeed, some ten years later, it becomes apparent that Asalfo and his crew, rebranded in the meantime as “Magic System,” are establishing themselves as masters in the art of “throwing the sauce,” preparing musical brews that perfectly capture the essence of this century’s beginning.
Their recipe? Simple but effective. First, lay down a bed of local sounds based primarily on zouglou; a musical genre born in the camps of Côte d’Ivoire in the 80s, a tropicalized rock’n’rap, born from student revolts against the government. Over time, this revolt became a social chronicle, as Asalfo puts it: “Since we were ‘little’ in Marcory, we have exposed the ills of society with a touch of humor.” Then sprinkle it with nuchi, a sort of local slang, a beautiful local reinterpretation of French. Then add, as needed, a few pinches of R’n’B’, rap, reggae or raï. Serve up a show! Indigestible recipe for some? Not for all… Which other African artist has stayed at the top of the French charts so enduringly? “On n’sait jamais,” a duet with Leslie (2002), “Un gaou à Oran,” a duet with 113 and Mohamed Lamine (2004), “Bouger, bouger,” a duet with Mokobé (2005), “C’Chô, ça brûle,” a duet with Hakil, Bilal, and Big Ali (2006). Whether it’s Rai n’ B’, R’n’B’-harissa, zouglourap-merguez, whatever the name. In a few singles, which have all been hits, Magic System has concocted a kind of musical maffé with beur, a fraternization of sounds that young Gauls relish. Ki dit Mié?
So, for ten years, the group has been gradually perfecting their magic potion. A first album in 1997, “Papitou”: testing the mixes. A second volume in 1999: the distillation of time has done its work. The cocktail takes shape, especially as it is enhanced by a strong pepper called “Premier Gaou” released in 2000 and certified double gold disk. Then 2003, the album “Un Gaou à Paris,” followed closely by “Cessa Kié La Vérité” and finally “Ki dit Mié” in 2007, a concentrated swing under the golden duo, Kore and Bellek (Rai n’B’Fever, Leslie, Amine), “old” companions of the road for Magic. A single duet on this disc: “On va samizé” with Amine, the little prince of raï n’ B’. Other “creations,” Akerahim (who has mixed for Rohff and Leslie). Here he produces “Africa,” a dazzling “Peace & Love” addressed to Africa. To finish with a flourish, try “Zouglou Dance,” made by the Bionix (Cheb Mami, Matt Pokora…).
