Actor

Josey

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Filmography

Josey — Biography, Age, Origin & Discography

Quick answer: Josey, born Gnakrou Josée Priscille, is an Ivorian singer-songwriter born on June 29, 1989, in Abidjan. Blending coupé-décalé, afro-zouk, R&B, soul and Congolese rumba, she is today one of the most decorated female voices in Francophone Africa, crowned Best Francophone Artist at the 2025 Trace Awards.

🪪 Fact Sheet







Field	Detail
Stage name	Josey
Real name	Gnakrou Josée Priscille
Date of birth	June 29, 1989
Age	37 (as of August 15, 2026)
Country	Côte d’Ivoire
Region / Ethnic origin	Southwestern Côte d’Ivoire — Godié and Avikam peoples
Birth city	Abidjan (Koumassi district)
Genre	Coupé-décalé, afro-zouk, contemporary R&B, soul, afro-dance, Congolese rumba, afro-folk
Years active	Since 2008
Label	Universal Music (distribution)
Breakthrough single	“On fait rien avec ça” (January 2014)
First album	Ziguehi (2008)
Latest album	Résonance (November 22, 2025)
Nicknames	“The Women’s Advocate,” “the Diva,” “Woman King”
Education	National School of Administration (ENA) of Côte d’Ivoire
Signature award	2025 Trace Awards — Best Francophone African Artist

Biography

Growing up in Koumassi: where the voice was forged in church

Grab a seat, because Josey’s story is the kind that gives you chills and restores your faith in perseverance. Born Gnakrou Josée Priscille on June 29, 1989, in Abidjan, she grew up in Koumassi in a family of four children, where gospel music wasn’t just something you listened to on Sundays — it was practically a mother tongue. Hailing from the Godié and Avikam peoples of southwestern Côte d’Ivoire, young Josée belongs to that generation who learned to sing before they fully understood what “singing in tune” even meant.

At just eight years old, she climbed onto her church’s stage for her first live performances. So Koumassi’s congregation got the first taste of a talent the whole world would eventually discover. As a teenager, she joined a high school rap crew called Quarantaine (40T’N) — yes, before becoming “the Women’s Advocate,” Josey was already dropping bars with her classmates. It’s there, in the bubbling world of Abidjan rap, that she crossed paths with JC Karma and DJ Kalif, two figures who would open industry doors for her.

The early years: features, cabaret stages, and a debut album

And yet, on paper, nothing was set in stone: Josey was a serious, even brilliant student, sharp enough to graduate from the National School of Administration (ENA) with a degree in public finance/administration. She could easily have ended up behind a desk in an Abidjan ministry. But music never quite let her go.

In 2008, she featured on Marteau Pilon’s track “Mouvement Chopy” and released her very first solo project, the album Ziguehi. Around the same time, she took part in recording all three volumes of “Kenini” with radio host and singer Eric Didia “Roro,” and contributed to slam poet Tus-Ty’s album “Chercheur d’or” (2010). Between 2009 and 2011, she performed regularly at l’Acoustique, a well-known Abidjan cabaret — a real live-performance training ground where she sharpened her stage presence and technique night after night, far from the spotlight but close to her audience.

The breakthrough: from Castel Live Opera to the “On fait rien avec ça” wave

The media breakthrough came in 2012: Josey covered Delta Group’s “Sapiou” at Castel Live Opera, a pan-African singing competition organized by the Castel brewing group, and finished in 2nd place. That’s the kind of springboard that changes a career — and for Josey, it absolutely did.

In January 2014, she released the solo maxi-single “On fait rien avec ça,” produced by fellow Ivorian producer Fremo Rafal. Dedicated to women, the track became a genuine phenomenon: racking up millions of views and turning into a full-blown catchphrase for an entire generation of young Ivorians. You’d hear it in the streets of Abidjan, on the radio, in schoolyards — Josey had officially arrived. That same year, she followed up with “Abidjan la joie” alongside DJ Bonano (produced by Grand Poucet), then “Koba,” a feature with the legendary DJ Arafat that popularized the “Coba” dance and topped download charts everywhere.

The consecration: “Diplôme” and the “Women’s Advocate” nickname

In 2015-2016, Josey released “Diplôme,” a hit that crossed Ivorian borders to become a pan-African anthem. The track earned her most iconic nickname: “the Women’s Advocate” (l’Avocate des femmes), a recognition of her commitment to amplifying women’s voices in an industry still very much male-dominated. “Diplôme” also earned her a first Kundé d’Or for Best West African Artist in 2016, plus a nomination at the Poro Music Awards in the “Best Female Newcomer” category.

By 2018, her rising fame opened television doors: she joined the coaching panel of The Voice Afrique Francophone, mentoring and revealing young talents over several seasons.

Artistic maturity: albums that cemented a solid career

2021 — Release of Cocktail, her first proper studio album (17 tracks), featuring international collaborators like Afro B and Bonigo. The single “Zambeleman” earned her a second Kundé d’Or for Best West African Artist.
2022 (October 14) — Release of the Phoenix EP. The title is no accident: like the mythical bird, Josey rose again after a quieter period marked by personal life controversies. A confident, more mature comeback.
2023 — An award-studded year: Best Female Artist of West Africa at the AFRIMA, and Best Female Artist at the Jayli Awards.
2024 — Release of her second studio album, Vibration Universelle, driven by tracks like “Double jeu,” “Je te kala pas,” and the future hit “Tout laisse.” That same year, she picked up several more Jayli Award trophies.
2025 — International consecration: at the Trace Awards ceremony held in Zanzibar, Josey was crowned Best Francophone African Artist, beating out strong contenders like Gaz Mawete, Tidiane Mario, and Didi B. In a speech delivered entirely in English, she thanked her fans, whom she affectionately calls her “Amazons” and her “Fighters.”
November 22, 2025 — Release of the album Résonance, a 12-track project billed as a genuine manifesto of resilience, blending African rhythms, zouk, coupé-décalé, and contemporary R&B.
February 27, 2026 — Recognition of her humanitarian commitment: Josey is officially named UNICEF Ambassador for Côte d’Ivoire, focused on maternal and child health, girls’ education, and the protection of children’s rights.

On a personal note, Josey has shared her life for several years with retired Ivorian international footballer Geoffroy Serey Dié, with whom she has two children.

Why Josey matters to African music

What stands out about Josey, beyond the hits and trophies, is the consistency of her story: a woman who chose the stage over a ministry desk, who turned her lived experience into anthems for other women, and who has never stopped reinventing herself — from Abidjan cabaret stages to the international spotlight in Zanzibar. A genuinely pan-African success story, rooted locally yet universal in what it says.

FAQ

How old is Josey? Born on June 29, 1989, Josey is 37 years old in 2026.

What is Josey’s real name? Her legal name is Gnakrou Josée Priscille.

Where is Josey from? Josey is from southwestern Côte d’Ivoire, from the Godié and Avikam peoples; she grew up in Koumassi, Abidjan.

What is Josey’s musical style? She moves between coupé-décalé, contemporary R&B, afro-zouk, soul, afro-dance, Congolese rumba, and afro-folk.

Which artists influenced or shaped Josey’s career? Her early years were shaped by collaborations with Eric Didia “Roro,” Marteau Pilon, JC Karma, DJ Kalif, DJ Arafat, and DJ Bonano, blending gospel, rap, and coupé-décalé influences.

What awards has Josey won? She has won two Kundé d’Or awards for Best West African Artist (2016, 2021), Best Female Artist of West Africa at the AFRIMA (2023), several Jayli Awards, and Best Francophone African Artist at the 2025 Trace Awards.