While Africa has blessed the world with many recognized female artists, there are few who boast such an exciting stage presence as Dobet Gnahoré. It’s crystal clear from the moment she takes the stage that we’re dealing with a true African music diva. Dobet is a virtuosic singer, dancer, percussionist, and songwriter, who has taken the modern Afropop sounds of her native Côte d’Ivoire in exciting new directions.

A 2010 Grammy winner and winner of Best Stage Performance at the Womad festival, Dobet Gnahoré is well-known for her jaw-dropping dance moves, powerful stage presence, and richly emotional vocal style. With her sixth album Couleur, released with the renowned record label Cumbancha in 2021 , Gnahoré breaks with her past acoustic styles to create a fiery album filled with danceable grooves, electronic beats, nimble electric guitar lines and catchy melodic hooks. With her latest album, Dobet celebrates the freedom to blend the urban energy of modern Africa with its vibrant ancestral rhythms. Gnahoré sings in multiple languages, from the diverse indigenous languages of her native land as well as in French and English, to better convey her optimistic message and reach broader audiences.

Dobet sings songs full of cheer and optimism, paying tribute to the women of today and tomorrow and using her words and image to empower a new generation of daring, strong and independent African women. Her performance and her messages are known to touch every single member of the audience – expect a performance brimming with energy and fire and overflowing with dance energy spanning between the traditional and contemporary. Can you imagine a better message for the closing act of Festival Lent?

Dobet Gnahoré, vocal, percussion
Seydou Khanzai, guitars
Florent Doué, el. bass
Abel Gadé, keyboards
Abraham Billy Goqui, drums, percussion