Côte d'Ivoire's capital, Abidjan, is perhaps the most influential city in recorded African music, with performers coming from across the continent to record their singles and albums. The city has several high-tech studios, more than any other city in Africa with only Johannesburg as a possible rival; prominent studios include JBZ, Nefertiti and Sequence. EMI International was the major label with the most invested in Abidjan and in African music in general until it shut down its African branch in 1995.
Each of the more than sixty ethnic groups of Côte d'Ivoire have their own folk music traditions, most showing strong vocal polyphony (a common characteristic of African music), especially the Baoulé. Talking drums are also common, especially among the Appollo, who are also known for their abissa purification dance, part of the popular music of Meiway. Polyrhythm, another African characteristic, is found throughout Côte d'Ivoire and is especially common in the southwest.
Gbébé, a Baoulé rhythm, has been a part of popular music since Côte d'Ivoire's independence, popularized by Soeurs Comöé and later, Frères Djatys and Sery Simplice. Ernesto Djédjé, however, is considered the father of Ivorian popular music. Using one of the folk rhythms of the Bété as well as his teacher, Amédée Pierre's dopé style. Djédjé has long been an advocate of Ivorian music, railing against the "Congolization" of the Abidjan scene. Outside of Côte d'Ivoire, Djédjé is best known for 1977's Gnoantre-Ziboté, which was a pan-African hit and found some success in France and Canada. He plays a type of music called ziglibithy.
Since Djédjé, now Ivorian musician has been able to achieve the same level of fame. Luckson Padaud's laba laba style, which is similar to the Bété ziglibithy, has had some success, as has Gnaore Djimi's polihet. The most popular styles in Côte d'Ivoire are imported reggae from Jamaica and hip hop from the United States; the country has produced notable musicians of both genres, especially Alpha Blondy's brand of Afro-reggae became a national hit following his appearance on the TV show First chance in 1983. Hip hop has been popular in Côte d'Ivoire since the mid-1990s, and includes a gangsta rap-influenced style called rap dogba. Notable hip hop musicians include All Mighty, M.C. Claver and Angelo.
Zouglou is the most recent Ivorian popular tradition. It comes from the early 1990s, when university students, upset about living conditions on campus, began rallying around Didier Billé. Zouglou was satirical in nature, and usually accompanied by a dance to a fictional god.
