Soum Bill
Mamadou Soumahoro, known by his stage name Soum Bill, is an Ivorian singer born in the early 1970s in Aboisso, in the South Comoé region of Côte d’Ivoire. His father is Koyaka from Séguéla and his mother is Agni from Aboisso. Music runs in the family for Soum Bill, as his paternal grandfather was a percussionist and his grandmother was a traditional singer.
In 1989, while in middle school, he joined a party band called Mini Choc and adopted his stage name, Soum Bill, a combination of his short surname and a nickname given to him by his friends. The band performed at events such as funerals, football matches, and other sociocultural events.
In 1992, he founded the band Les Garagistes with friends, riding the Zouglou wave. Soum Bill, as lead singer, released the album “Enfant Chéri,” but it was not a success. In 1993, Soum Bill left Les Garagistes and formed the band “Les Salopards” with Bloco, Collin, and Debengue.
After two years of work, Les Salopards released the album “Bouche B,” which sold over 200,000 copies, a sales record in Côte d’Ivoire. In 1997, they released the album “Génération Sacrifiée,” which denounced the plight of students. In 1999, the band released a third album, “Pays Perdu.” However, the group disbanded due to management issues.
In 2000, Soum Bill began his solo career and released the album “Zambakro.” In 2002, he released his second solo album, “Terre des hommes,” which explores themes of politics, love, and religion.
During the war in Côte d’Ivoire, Soum Bill devoted himself to the stage and performed worldwide. He was the first Ivorian singer to perform in Bouaké, a rebel-held area, on December 31, 2005.
Five years after “Terre des hommes,” Soum Bill returns with the album “Que la lumière soit,” which explores spiritual and social themes. The album also explores various African musical styles.