During several months I sat and worked on preparing a lecture about the contribution of the african music to the rise of the world music.
I´ bought and borrowed hundred books, interviewed mot of the known pruducers, journalists and that was not enough to get everything I needed to know about the epic of African music of the 70s & 80s of which Abidjan was the African music capital. All the current great african artists as Salif Keita, Manu Dibango, Mory Kanté, lived here in Abidjan or passed through the capitale on their way for better musical career in Paris, London or to Brussels.
My google searches led me to a certain person by the name of Jaques Biozzolon. A French producer who seems have produced most of the african artists. More than1500 artists has produced their albums in his studio in Abidjan. He produced the first Tinariwen cassette and Alpha Blondy first album. I immediately started looking for his contact but couldn't find something. You can read all what he has done, but no info about his contact, where he lives if he ever still lives.
I traveled to Abidjan to continue my searching in place. I met people who assured me that he is alive and lives in Abidjan but did´nt have his phone number. They explain to me where he had his studio witch it has been closed for many years.
I took a taxi and asked to driver to taket to birgin, the area where he had the sudio. I thought to take at least some pictures while hoping at to find someone who can tell me more about him.
Taxi dropped me 300 meters from the place, it is not possible to drive any further. I slowly started to walk and seen a kiosk. As soon as I got closer, I see someone leaving the place with a frensh baguette under his arm, strangely resembling to the person I was looking for.
I thought I was hallucinating. That's him. I recognized him from the photos. I called out about him and he turned to me. I approached him and introduced myself. We made the promenad together to his office which was just 100 meters away. As we walked i wondered is this really was true.I´found the white Sugar Man
He explains to me before we sit down that the studio has been closed for many years due to legal disputes with the municipality
Later he showed me around the studio which has seen thousands of artists passing through, followed by a long interview that you can read on my website.
