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Gnonnas Pedro (1943-2004)
(Bénin)
Biography
Gnonnas Pedro has been one of those grand old men in African music. He has been known
as one of the best salseros of Africa, and he had several hits popular all over (francophone) Africa, such as
« Dadjè von o von non »,
« Azo Nkplondoun Ndé »,
« La Musica en vérité » and
« Irma Koï ».
Originating from Lokossa in the South-West of Benin, he has also modernised agbadja music, the music of his native region. In the mid-1960s, he created his first band Pedro y Sus Panchos, he sung with Orchestre Poly-Rythmo during the early 1970s, and continued with Ses Dadjes as his own group again. Gnonnas recorded albums regularly until 1985, after which a periode of relative calm started. His stardom rose again after he was asked to replace Pape Seck in Africando in 1996. With Africando he recorded a few of his old hits such as « Irma Koï », the songs he composed and sung for Africando were successful. He loved the stage and was a gifted dancer. In recent years, his own work became available again after the release of a few CD compilations.
Towards the end of 2003, health problems occurred and the terrible diagnosis of prostate cancer would remain known only to few close friends, Gnonnas didn't want the world to know. Even few months before his death, he participated in Africando's world tour and danced as ever before. A North American tour planned for August 2004 had to be cancelled though, due to his illness. After three surgeries in 2004, the doctors finally gave up on 7 August. Gnonnas wanted to be with his family and returned to Cotonou on 11 August, where he died a day later.
Originating from Lokossa in the South-West of Benin, he has also modernised agbadja music, the music of his native region. In the mid-1960s, he created his first band Pedro y Sus Panchos, he sung with Orchestre Poly-Rythmo during the early 1970s, and continued with Ses Dadjes as his own group again. Gnonnas recorded albums regularly until 1985, after which a periode of relative calm started. His stardom rose again after he was asked to replace Pape Seck in Africando in 1996. With Africando he recorded a few of his old hits such as « Irma Koï », the songs he composed and sung for Africando were successful. He loved the stage and was a gifted dancer. In recent years, his own work became available again after the release of a few CD compilations.
Towards the end of 2003, health problems occurred and the terrible diagnosis of prostate cancer would remain known only to few close friends, Gnonnas didn't want the world to know. Even few months before his death, he participated in Africando's world tour and danced as ever before. A North American tour planned for August 2004 had to be cancelled though, due to his illness. After three surgeries in 2004, the doctors finally gave up on 7 August. Gnonnas wanted to be with his family and returned to Cotonou on 11 August, where he died a day later.
Gnonnas Pedro
Born: 10 January 1943, in Cotonou, as Gnonnas Sousou Pierre Kwasivi
Died: Died 12 August 2004 in Cotonou
Style: afro-salsa, agbadja, highlife
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| La belle époque: 1965 - 1975, Vol.1 | 2011 | Syllart Productions 000988 | 2 CD |
| The Best of Gnonnas Pedro | 2003 | African Songs CDAS89715 | CD |
| Irma Koi | 2000 | Sono CDS7070 | CD, compilation of SYL 8302 & SYL 8311 |
| Agbadja | 1999 | Syllart SYL9657 | CD |
| La Compilation - Musique Afro-Cubaine Vol.2 | 1999 | Ledoux/Mélodie 79560-2 | CD |
| La Compilation - Musique Afro-Cubaine Vol.1 | 1999 | Ledoux/Mélodie 79556-2 | CD |
| Les femmes d'abord | 1985 | Syllart SYL 8311 | LP - with ses Djadjes |
| Mimi Pinson | 1982 | Syllart SYL 8302 | LP - with ses Djadjes |
| Sweet Combine | [1982?] | Éditions Gnoinsopé EGK 003 | LP |
| El Cochechivo | 1981 | Ledoux Records ASL 7031 | LP, reissue of Editions Gnoinsopé EGK 002 |
| Salsa à la Gnonnas Pedro | 1981 | Ledoux Records ASL 7022 | LP, reissue of "Africa Tei Cuba" |
| Atimawuin dagamasi | 1980 | Ledoux Records ASL 7010 | LP, French reissue of the Discostock LP |
| La musica en verité | 1980 | Ledoux Records ASL 7009 | LP, French reissue of "Kalapchap" |
| Africa Tei Cuba | 198? | Editions Gnoinsopé EGK 001 | |
| I feel alright | 1980 | World Wide Music 4L | LP - with his Djadjes Band |
| African Discotheque: Kalapchap | 1979 | World Wide Music 1L | LP - with his Djadjes Band |
| Gnonnas Pedro | 1979 | Disco Stock | LP, Ivorian pressing, compilation of Nigerian recordings |
| La combinacion de Gnonnas Pedro | 1978 | Ledoux Records ASL 7003 | Gnonnas Pedro & his Djadjes vol. 4 (TYC 91-L, 1978) |
| The band of Africa: Vol. 3 | 1977 | African Songs Ltd AS62-L | Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band |
| The band of Africa: Vol. 2 | 1976 | African Songs Ltd AS52-L | Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band |
| The band of Africa: Vol. 1 | 1975 | African Songs Ltd AS42-L | Gnonnas Pedro and his Dadjes Band |
Page added March 2006