24 Facts About Alpha Blondy

In 1962, Alpha Blondy joined his father in Odienne, where he spent ten years, attended Sainte Elisabeth High School, and was involved in the Ivory Coast students movement.

Alpha Blondy formed a band in high school, but this affected his schooling and he was expelled for poor attendance.

Alpha Blondy's parents sent him to study English in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, in 1973.

Alpha Blondy spent thirteen months there and then moved to the United States to improve his English.

Alpha Blondy is spiritual, political and positive just like Marley himself, and recorded a cover of Bob Marley's song "War".

Alpha Blondy travelled to the island of Jamaica and recorded the title track of this album with Marley's backing group, The Wailers.

Back home in 1985, Alpha Blondy went into the studio to record Apartheid Is Nazism; the title song was a call for the end of apartheid.

Alpha Blondy tried to promote unity between the religion of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Alpha Blondy drew his arguments and inspiration from his own diverse knowledge of the Bible, the Quran, and the Torah.

The album, with its hit single "Rendez Vous", was a huge success, and Alpha Blondy was later to receive his first Gold Disc in Paris.

At the beginning of 1993, worn out from a world tour, Alpha Blondy succumbed to depression and was taken into an institution for psychiatric help.

In 1996, Alpha Blondy released a hits compilation and went back into the studio to record the album Grand Bassam Zion, singing in six languages: Malinke; Arabic; French; English; Ashanti and Wolof.

Alpha Blondy celebrated 20 years as a recording artist with the 2002 release of CD MERCI, featuring Ophelie Winter and Saian Supa Crew, which earned him a 2003 Grammy Award nomination for "Best Reggae Album".

On 19 July 2009, Alpha Blondy performed at New York's Central Park before a crowd of many native Africans, Jamaicans, and Americans.

On 27 June 2010, Alpha Blondy was the closing act at Parkpop, The Hague, Netherlands.

Alpha Blondy has been an important influence on other African reggae artists such as Ismael Isaac.

In February 2023, Alpha Blondy Performed in front of home crowd at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan for the closing ceremony of the 2023 African Cup of Nations.

Alpha Blondy performed two songs, Sebe Allah Ye and his anthem, Cocody Rock.

Alpha Blondy was born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother, and was brought up by a grandmother "who taught him to love everyone".

In 2005, Alpha Blondy was named United Nations Ambassador of Peace for Cote d'Ivoire.

Alpha Blondy made great efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to his country's political and physical division which was a result of an attempted coup in 2001.

Alpha Blondy strongly believes in helping the poor, and that children should not be hurt.

Alpha Blondy continues to fight for peace and unity all around the world through music.

Alpha Blondy has participated at many humanitarian and charity concerts, such as the concert in Senegal in March 2006 for the eradication of Malaria in Africa.