-« Notes and follow-up » from the Chief editor and Managing Director-« Yves T Bouazo »-« Photo »:African and international reggae star « Alpha Blondy ».
-« Reminder of the facts »:
-In 1985-1986, african rising reggae star recorded the « LP » titled: »Apartheid is nazism » with 9 tracks.Among those tracks was a tribute to the former ivorian president « Jah Houphouet », a controversy in the international reggae entertainment field.
-Down the line, « Alpĥa Blondy » defended himself when saying that in his own creation:(« Jah Houhpouet ») was a lyric written in celebration of the old president of « Ivory coast », my native country indeed in « West Africa ».He is the godfather of Ivorian independence on « August-7th 1960 ».He then died in office on « 7 December-1993 ».
-« Houphouet Boigny » saved my life indeed and my rising reggae career indeed to some extent!In the 80s, it was illegal to listen to reggae music at the time in west africa and the whole of africa.Furthermore, if you wore « dreadlocks », you were arrested in the capital city of « Ivory coast », « Abidjan », being labelled as a rebel creation negatively.Moreover, they’d shave your head with broken bottles if you were not lucky.How many have been beaten to death through police brutality?
-All i know is that is a miracle i got through this particular period alive.It’s a miracle because i’m a survivor indeed!
-In « 1984-1985 », when i was arrested for possessing « marijuana » nicknamed « Guédji » in « Ivory coast », « Sékou touré » in Guinea », and « Yamba » in « Mali » in West Africa.As far as the facts are concerned,The former president of Ivory coast, « Félix Houphouet Boigny » told the ivorian police without gloves:(« You’re off to arrest the reggae star « Alpha Blondy », but if he was able to come by the drug, it must have somehow crossed the border…He then asked a predominant question:(« Are you going to make him pay for your own incomptence?After that, he told me off as if i was a child, said some of the people i was hanging out with were on cocaine(coke)!
-Definitely, he was right:My place in the district of « Treicheville » in the capital city « Abidjan) labelled as « kingston the kingston’s trenchtwon » was like « Katmandu », although i’ve personally always been a strict herbivore.
-Definitely, to those who criticize the former president of Ivory coast, « Houphouet Boigny », i say straighgtforward, he was the saviour of ivorian and african reggae.The song titled « Jah Houphouet » was my way of saying great thanks in a gratitude spirit indeed!
-« Extra showbusiness info »: »The Latest Alpha blondy » is « Love power » taken from the « LP » « Eternity » featuring « Stoneboy » from « Ghana ».