This Daily Discovery stops in Toulon via Abidjan and Ouagadougou with ABI Afrobeat and “Yamoléma”, released on 12 December. The seven-piece was founded in 2022 by Isaac Koffi, an Ivorian bassist and lead vocalist who names Fela Kut, Antibalas and Gyedu-Blay Ambolley as reference points for the band’s classic afrobeat frame.

Koffi, who moved from Abidjan to Toulon via Ouagadougou over a decade-long period starting in 2012, assembled the band from conservatory-trained musicians with distinct geographic backgrounds. Guitarist Gaspard Makasi brings experience from Congo, Angola, Namibia and Ethiopia. Percussionist Julien Peyronnin studied in Brazil and adds batucada patterns to the rhythm section. Drummer Martin Guibreteau works with Afro-Cuban rhythms, while guitarist Frédéric Laugier toured Europe with La Furia from age 19, recording three albums with them.

The horn section consists of Antoine Schmutz on trombone, who trained with Ibrahim Maalouf, and Julian Broudin on alto and baritone saxophone, who toured Europe with Ken Boothe and Bushman before joining Raspigaous and co-leading New Jazz group Triguer Fish.

“Yamoléma” brings together the group’s mix of West African polyrhythms, Brazilian batucada percussion and Afro-Cuban drum patterns. The track  is built on the interplay between Makasi and Laugier’s guitars, with Koffi’s bassline anchoring the polyrhythmic foundation laid by Guibreteau and Peyronnin. The horn arrangements from Schmutz and Broudin follow classic afrobeat construction, with unison lines giving way to individual statements. Koffi leads the vocals, with Makasi providing vocal support.

Stream “Yamoléma” HERE