Videos Of Traditional Benin West African Music

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: November 16, 2020

This pancocojams post presents seven videos of traditional music from Benin, West Africa.

In addition to showcasing & enjoying the vocal & instrumental music, I'm interested in viewing the dances, clothing, male or female head gear styles, and the scenes that are shown in these videos.

Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin for information about Benin (formerly known as "Dahomey".)

The content of this post is presented for recreational, folkloric, and aesthetic purposes.

Note: I don't speak the language/s found in these videos. Information about the meaning of these songs would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

All rights to this material remain with their owners.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
(These videos are presented in no ranking order.)

Video #1: BENIN - Dossou Letriki - Evivi yenadou



Uploaded by kandevie on Aug 6, 2011

Traditional Masse Gohoun Rhytm from Avrankou, Benin, West Africa

-snip-
Here's a comment about this video that I wrote in 2012: 
"Thank you for posting this video. I took the liberty of adding it to a post on my cultural blog. Google Pancocojams Traditional Music Videos Of Benin West African Music .

 I'm an African American who is interested in African culture but only understands English. Any information written in English about this video would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance."

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Here's a comment that I received on Nov. 16, 2020
from Moutiou Adjibi
"This song's title is "Ato gbèmè éyon nanwé", litteraly meaning "when you are rich in this world". The language used is "Goungbé" or "Goun". The song, from the artist Dossou Letriki talks about the fact that when someone is rich he has many friends, but when everything turn bad, all those friends disappear. The rythm or style of the music you are hearing is called "Massè Gohoun"."

**
I thanked Moutiou Adjibi for that reply and wrote that I'm glad that he didn't think it was too late to respond to my question.

I plan to search for more information and examples of  "Massè Gohoun". music.

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Video #2: Didolanvi Félix



Uploaded by polorishas1 on Feb 21, 2009
-snip-
Here's a viewer comment which is partly written in English (which unfortunately is the only language that I understand, although I can piece together the meaning of most of these French words)
"i love this song soooooooooooooooo much, i m from porto novo, benin but now living in america. Dieu benisse ce monsieur, ce morceau m inspire et m emporte au ciel, la bonte de Dieu sur nous est inestimable. j adore la joie de vivre du village, la fraternite, l ambiance entre famille"
-evystoful, 2011

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Video #3: BENIN-YINMAKODJIVIDE BO ZE HANGOUDENAN



Uploaded by HERVAKOMDJ on Oct 11, 2009
-snip-
Here's a viewer comment written in English:
"I sure love this music and the Egungun magical moves. God bless Africa !!! This is great. I will one day visit Benin Republic by God's grace"
-allen parker; 2012

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Video #4: Benin- Janvier Denagan - Guigo



Uploaded by EHUZU1 on Feb 11, 2009

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Video #5: Benin music- Don Metok : Gnonnou



Uploaded by BIGDAVOLK on Dec 31, 2008
-snip-
Here's a comment written in English from this video's viewer comment thread:
"oooh he is talking about women. The parralel between "Yonnou" and "Yon nou" In Fongbe language, Yonnou means woman but also when smebody tells you "yon nou" it means "pay attention to the way you drink it" the conclusion is, men should drink women softly and know how dangerous they can be if they want to...and they can easily get drunk if they abuse...dnt know if u understand what i mean"
-nacareby; 2010
-snip-
I also want to mention that I'm not sure if this song or singing style is actually "traditional" but I wanted to include it because I really love the song.

Can anyone confirm if this is a traditional song? Thanks in advance.

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Video #6: BENIN MUSIC :EDIA SOPHIE NKPEZON TO

"

Uploaded by HERVAKOMDJ on Mar 3, 2009

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Video #7: BENIN Anice pépé - SOUROU-



Uploaded by chegundossi on Sep 16, 2010

Sourou (du calme,patience).Dans la vie il faut de la patience,du calme en toute chose

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RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/08/agbadja-music-dance-gbessi-zolawadji.html
Agbadja Music & Dance & Gbessi Zolawadji

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the musicians, singers, and dancers who performed in these featured videos. Thanks also to the videographers, video uploaders, and commenters who I have quoted on those video's comment threads.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.