Ivorian reggae legend, Alpha Blondy, pictured during an interview at his radio station Alpha Blondy FM, in Abidjan (AFP Photo/Sia Kambou)
ABIDJAN (AFP) – His voice is warm, his reading poised. Adored by reggae fans everywhere, Ivorian superstar Alpha Blondy has now become a storyteller on his own radio station.
Born Seydou Kone, the 62-year-old musician and activist in March launched Radio Livre — a nightly programme whose name in French means “book radio”.
Long committed to social change, Alpha Blondy wants to inspire young people to learn to love books.
“At least those who don’t know how to read know how to listen. This is our goal: to encourage young people to read,” said Ivory Coast’s best-known musician and its former UN ambassador for peace.
“If we can kill two birds with one stone — entertain them while we educate them — then we’re doing something useful,” he added.
The radio station is located on the top floor of a small shopping arcade that Blondy himself is building near his own colourful home.
“I’ve always loved to read,” said Blondy.
He had not yet finished primary school when he read the 1933 Andre Malraux novel “Man’s Fate”, set in China and which tells a complex story of revolt, betrayal and free will.
“I didn’t understand any of it, but I liked it,” said the artist, who has sold millions of records in his more than three-decade career.
Reggae legend Blondy swaps beats for books in Ivory C
Source: Mb.com.ph (April 16, 2015 at 01:38PM)
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