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Coupé-décalé

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Coupé-décalé
Stylistic originsZouglou, ndombolo, techno, tribal house, soca, reggae
Cultural originsEarly 2000s
Typical instrumentsPC, turntables, drum machine, vocal

Coupé-décalé (French pronunciation: [kupe dekale]) is a type of popular dance music originating in Côte d'Ivoire. Drawing heavily from zouglou and ndombolo with African influences, coupé-décalé is a very percussive style, featuring African samples, deep bass, and repetitive minimalist arrangements.[1][2][3][4]

The genre was developed around 2001 by a group of young Ivorian club promoters and performers known as the Jet Set, led by Douk Saga. These performers, referred to as atalakus (hype men), gained recognition for their flamboyant performances, ostentatious fashion, and theatrical displays of wealth.[5] The movement popularized Nouchi slang terms such as farot farot (to flaunt wealth) and travaillement (lavish distribution of cash), drawing inspiration from Congolese sapeur subculture.[5] The terms "coupé" ("to cheat") and "décalé" ("to run away") were introduced by DJ Jacob in reference to the music and the accompanying dance styles, although Douk Saga is credited with creating and globalizing the concept, particularly with the 2003 hit "Sagacité".[5][6]

Coupé-décalé emerged as a dominant cultural force during the political and social unrest that followed the 2002 outbreak of the First Ivorian Civil War. Amid curfews and national division, the genre provided a form of escapism and expression for Ivorian youth, who gathered in maquis (local bars) and nightclubs to dance and celebrate resilience.[5] The Yopougon district, particularly Princess Street, became a hub for the movement, where DJs evolved from background figures into leading artists. Each song often introduced a new dance move or gesture, fueling the genre's popularity.[5] The genre's second wave was led by artists such as DJ Arafat, who helped modernize and internationalize the genre with a more aggressive atalaku style and a digitally driven sound, ultimately becoming one of the genre's most influential figures.[5][7] Other prominent artists include Serge Beynaud, Debordo Leekunfa, Mix Premier (DJ Mix), DJ Lewis, and others.[5]

History

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Music of Ivory Coast
General topics
Genres
Specific forms
Nationalistic and patriotic songs
National anthem
Regional music

Francophone Africa

Coupé-décalé, widely regarded as the defining popular music genre of Côte d'Ivoire, originated not in West Africa but among the Ivorian diaspora in Paris. The genre was initiated in the early 2000s by a group of young Ivorian partygoers known as atalakus—a term referring to club hype men—who frequented the Atlantis nightclub in northeastern Paris.[8][6][9] This group, known as the Jet Set, and led by pioneering figure Douk Saga, became notable for their high-energy performances, flamboyant fashion, and ostentatious displays of wealth, including the act of throwing cash to clubgoers, a practice referred to as travaillement. Their aesthetic, heavily influenced by Congolese sapeurs, emphasized flashy clothing and theatrical showmanship, and played a central role in defining the genre's visual and performative identity.[5][6]

Coupé-décalé derives its name from Nouchi, an Ivorian street slang. According to journalist Siddhartha Mitter, coupé translates to "cheat" and décalé to "run away", symbolizing a rebellious ethos often interpreted as "cheating the system" and escaping—typically from Western or colonial structures, in a manner reminiscent of the idea of "The Man" in American counterculture.[6] Early songs in the genre often celebrated individuals who had achieved success abroad through cunning or resourcefulness. The term boucantier (literally, "shoemaker" in French) came to refer to artists with a flamboyant or unconventional style, and later to fans and imitators of the movement.[10]

However, alternate interpretations of the genre's terminology exist. According to musicologist Olivier Rivera Micalef in Tradition et modernité dans la musique de l'Afrique occidentale, DJ Jacob was the first to use the terms "coupé" (interpreted as "cut") and "décalé" ("shift") in reference to specific dance steps performed by the Jet Set.[11] While DJ Jacob contributed the vocabulary, Douk Saga is widely credited with conceptualizing and popularizing the movement globally.[11]

The genre's breakthrough hit, "Sagacité", was released by Douk Saga during the First Ivorian Civil War. The song, which prominently featured atalaku vocal techniques, resonated deeply in a society facing political instability and socio-economic hardship.[12][13]

"[Coupé-décalé ] has become very popular at a time of conflict; in fact, the country, has been going through this protracted political and military crisis, with debilitating social and economic effects".[6]

Although arising from this time of political turmoil, coupé-décalé lyrically addresses topics such as relationships, earning money and maintaining a good mood or 'bonne ambiance'. Much of its lyrics refer to specific dance moves, often referencing current events such as the avian flu dance[14] or Guantanamo (with hand movements imitating hands raised in chains).[15] These global themes could have helped to make coupé-décalé so deeply popular across a politically divided Côte d'Ivoire and spread its influence so far across Africa and the diaspora. there has been a growing interest in coupé décalé. In February 2009, Akwaaba Music released an Ivorian and Ghanaian compilation, one of the first legal worldwide releases of coupé décalé, highlighting some of the recent coupé décalé released in Côte d'Ivoire. The compilation features music by DJ Menza, DJ Bonano, DJ Mix 1er & Eloh DJ and Kedjevara.

Movements within coupé-décalé

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In 2008, Georges Dyoula distinguished 3 waves in the development of coupé-décalé:[16]

  • 1st wave, ~2002–2004: The appearance, success and domination of the JetSet, DJ Allan, DJ Arafat, DJ Jacob, DJ Serpent Noir, DJ Christy-B, DJ Arsenal, Don Mike le Guru, Bloco, Erickson le Zulu, DJ String, DJ Ressource, Shégal Mokonzi, Mama Ministre, Youlés Inter, DJ Jeff, Ayano.
  • 2nd wave, 2005–2006: This period is essentially led by «la danse de la Moto» and dances relating to football (Konami, Drogbacité, Kolocité). The appearance, success and domination of Boulevard DJ, DJ Bombastik, DJ Rodrigue, Shanaka Yakusa, Danny Blue DJ, DJ Gaoussou, Oxxy Norgy, Roland Le Binguiss, Douk Saga, Christina DJ, Le Molare, Solo Béton, Erickson le Zulu, DJ Zidane, Ligue DJ, DJ Disconty, Kilabongo, PS One DJ.
  • 3rd wave – 2006–2010: The 3rd wave includes the most new artists and new derivative styles of dance. This wave is also associated with a ‘Congolization’ of rhythms, lyrics and artists. The appearance, success and domination of DJ Lewis, DJ Bonano, DJ Roi Lion, Francky Dicaprio, Flamzy DJ, Joscar DJ, DJ Mix, Elloh DJ, DJ Phéno, Mustapha Al Kabila, Mareshal DJ, Harmony, Maty Dollar, Linda de Lindsay, Ronaldo R9, DJ TV3, Debordeaux DJ, Erickson le Zulu, Dollar-R, Miki Dollar, TPJ New Version, Jean-jacques Kouamé, Abou Nidal.

Socio-political interpretations

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In 2005, Vladimir Cagnolari suggested that the music is a way Ivorians are coping with their unstable political situation.

"For a few hours, the rooms is transformed into an ephemeral temple of festival/party, using carefreeness and amusement to counter the socio-political problems of a country still waiting for peace. ... In a musical landscape dominated by patriotic and military music, coupé-décalé arrives like a breath of fresh air to forget the difficult context in which Ivorians are living."[17]

In 2006, Dominik Kohlhagen wrote:

"Over the past three years, coupé-décalé has become one of the most thriving forms of popular music in francophone Africa. Produced by people who claim to have achieved "success" abroad, coupé-décalé represents "elsewhere" as a site from which one can achieve a certain status in consumer society so as to return home to be celebrated. This music expresses generationel transformations that affect lifestyles in Africa as well as ways of projecting oneself in the world."[18]

Artists

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The prominent artists of coupé-décalé are Douk-Saga (Doukouré) with its Jet Set, DJ Brico, DJ Arsenal, Papa Ministre with his famous tune "Coupé-Décalé Chinois", David Tayorault, Afrika Reprezenta, and many other talented Ivorian artists. DJ Lewis is a particularly notable singer, famous for his Grippe Aviaire Dance (en: avian flu dance).[14]

In 2005, Jessy Matador decided to create his own group called La Sélésao composed of members Dr. Love, Linho and Benkoff. The same members also formed the first edition of the group Magic System. In late 2007, they signed with Oyas Records before signing with Wagram Records in spring 2008. They released their début single "Décalé Gwada" in June 2008, becoming one of the hits of that summer. On 24 November 2008, the group released the album Afrikan New Style, a musical hybrid of African and Caribbean influences with more urban sounds. In June 2013, an upbeat dance song was released on YouTube by Minjin titled "Coupé-Décalé". It featured Iyanya, a Nigerian artist famous for his hit single "Kukere".

Influences

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Coupé-décalé draws its musical foundation from earlier Ivorian styles such as Zouglou and youssoumba, and was heavily influenced in its formative years by Congolese ndombolo, as well as Cameroonian makossa and Caribbean musical forms.[8] Language played a notable role in its development, with early tracks often incorporating pseudo-Lingala as noted by Ivorian music journalist Diarra Tiemoko.[19][20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gninyomo, Luc (21 August 2021). "What Is the Famous Ivorian Music, Coupé-décalé?". Sheen Magazine. Fountain Inn, South Carolina, United States. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  2. ^ Rémy, Jean-Philippe (17 October 2006). "Douk Saga, artiste ivoirien" [Douk Saga, Ivorian artist]. Le Monde.fr (in French). Paris, France. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  3. ^ Eyre, Banning (26 April 2018). "The State of Congolese Music 2018: An Interview with Lubangi Muniania". Afropop Worldwide. Brooklyn, New York City, New York State, United States. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Coupé Décalé with Oulouy". www.dance.nyc. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Micalef, Olivier Rivera (July 2024). "Tradition et modernité dans la musique de l'Afrique occidentale" [Tradition and Modernity in the Music of West Africa] (PDF). Digibuo.uniovi.es (in French). Oviedo, Asturias, Spain: University of Oviedo. p. 35–37. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e Mitter, Siddhartha. afropop.org The Hip Hop Generation: Ghana's Hip Life and Ivory Coast's Coupé-Decalé. Accessed July 10, 2008. Archived September 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Mwamba, Bibi (7 February 2022). "L'influence de la rumba congolaise sur la scène musicale mondiale". Music in Africa (in French). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b Micalef, Olivier Rivera (July 2024). "Tradition et modernité dans la musique de l'Afrique occidentale" [Tradition and Modernity in the Music of West Africa] (PDF). Digibuo.uniovi.es (in French). Oviedo, Asturias, Spain: University of Oviedo. p. 35. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  9. ^ McDonnell, John (2008-11-18). "Although Coupé-Décalé is most popular in the Ivory Coast, it actually emerged from a nightclub in Paris called the Atlantis". Guardian. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  10. ^ "Ange Farot: L'éleveur de chien devenu un phénomène à Abidjan. Tout sur sa vie du boucantier". Le Point Sur (in French). 6 September 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  11. ^ a b Micalef, Olivier Rivera (July 2024). "Tradition et modernité dans la musique de l'Afrique occidentale" [Tradition and Modernity in the Music of West Africa] (PDF). Digibuo.uniovi.es (in French). Oviedo, Asturias, Spain: University of Oviedo. p. 36. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  12. ^ Mwamba, Bibi (7 February 2022). "L'influence de la rumba congolaise sur la scène musicale mondiale" [The influence of Congolese rumba on the world music scene]. Music in Africa (in French). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  13. ^ Lavaine, Bertrand (8 January 2021). "Coupé décalé, tempo sulfureux" [Coupé décalé, sulphurous tempo]. Radio France Internationale (in French). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  14. ^ a b DJ Lewis. (January 30, 2007) YouTube (Côte d'Ivoire) DJ Lewis – Grippe Aviaire. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  15. ^ Guantanamo. (March 16, 2007) YouTube Coupe Decale – Guantanamo. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  16. ^ Dyoul, Georges. france-metisse.fr Écrit par Georges Dyoula. Accessed July 10, 2008. Archived June 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Cagnolari, Vladimir. (June 18, 2005) rfimusique.com Le coupé décalé s'envole au Bataclan. Retour sur une chaude soirée (translated: The half-compartment shifted s' fly away in Bataclan. Return on a hot evening.) Accessed July 10, 2008
  18. ^ Dominik, Kohlhagen (December 2005 – January 2006). Politique africaineFrime, escroquerie et cosmopolitisme. Le succès du « coupé-décalé » en Afrique et ailleurs.(translated: Display, fraud and cosmopolitanism. Success in Africa and beyond.) Page 92. No. 100.
  19. ^ Mutombo, Onassis (29 November 2017). "Naza, le (ré)inventeur du "ndombolo"!" [Naza, the (re)inventor of "ndombolo"!]. Arts.cd (in French). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  20. ^ Cagnolari, Vladimir (18 April 2005). "Le coupé décalé s'envole au Bataclan" [Coupé décalé takes off at the Bataclan]. Radio France Internationale (in French). Paris, France. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
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