After ten consecutive years of absence from the Beninese music scene, Rabby Slo is making a comeback with a live concert and a gala dinner in tribute to women.
On Saturday 11 March, the Beninese public was thrilled by the melodious voice and captivating music of the famous artist Rabby Slo. It was the perfect opportunity to bring together music lovers whose childhood and adolescence were rocked by the artist’s music.
As announced, the first part of the concert was handled by the mythical group Afafa, currently composed of two members: Assido and Zaggaza; the third Videgla who died a few years earlier. They kept the audience on its toes with their hit songs of the time.
Nevertheless, in the aftermath of this reunion, which was announced with great fanfare on social media, especially Facebook, cybernauts are still wondering about the success of this musical and scenic comeback, which seems to have gone unnoticed. There was almost no feedback on the event: hardly any pictures, videos or even testimonies from the public.
The artist posted on Sunday, a short video with the following caption: “My thanks to all of you who made it yesterday to the Majestic hall of Cadjehoun. Great is the joy that you have brought me for this gala dinner. May the Almighty assist us. #Afrotchinkmusic #groupeafafa”.
Rabby Slo also shared his post-concert impressions with Kiawo Benin TV: “It goes straight to my heart that people came out. Not in the way I wanted, but they came to support me. It’s a good start. I am very, very happy. Now it’s just a start and things are looking up. There is the Teni project that we have to push. There’s the album that’s coming in a few months. […] It’s just the beginning.”
Rabby Slo, at the heart of the controversy as soon as he returned home.
The announcement of this concert a month ago was warmly welcomed by Rabby’s fans, who were eager and excited to see him again after so many years away from the music scene. But the cost of the tickets (100,000 solo and 150,000 for couples) soon dampened the general jubilation and caused an uproar among music lovers. The latter did not fail to express their indignation and frustration at the prices of tickets deemed “too expensive”, “exaggerated”, “VIP select” on Facebook. Critics to whom the artist did not fail to respond: “The price, many are not happy and I understand, but this concert is for those that my music has rocked, those to whom it has given hope and who are now in major positions, people who already testify elsewhere. The Beninese artist must have value. We must also start by improving the image of our artists. Today, only concerts allow artists to survive. (Benin Web TV)
Richard Flash’s statement at the end of the concert last Saturday may well give a glimmer of hope to the majority of his saddened fans who have not been able to see him on stage due to lack of funds. “I enjoyed it a lot because he stayed Rabby Slo: the voice is there, the techniques are there. And then I enjoyed the trip because there were only beautiful people. It was an intimate, family concert and I think there will be more. We can do beautiful things together. The Centrale Company which is my communication and event agency, I promised that in front of the whole audience, we will soon organise his second live concert but in a big audience.”
Rabby Slo, prdigal musician
Rabby Slo, whose real name is Wilfrid Houwanou, is a singer-songwriter who was very popular with the Beninese public in the early 2000s. His first album ‘Enangnon’ released in 1998 revealed him to Beninese music lovers and his three other albums have convinced the public and propelled his career beyond the borders of his native Benin. After having had hit after hit (Mahu Mahu, Ferme pas Kokoko, Gbêto, Yajiji se we na, Alafia, etc.) and having made the whole Benin dance, Rabby Slo has disappeared from the Beninese music scene leaving his fans in extreme distress.
When asked about the reasons for his voluntary exile to Uncle Sam’s country (USA) despite his successful musical career in the country, the artist confided that he left to further his art. And deepening his art, he did it well. He studied music at the Hochstein School of Music & Dance and is now the owner of one of the best recording studios under the label “Replay4life music”. Now a producer, he has made a comeback in the Beninese musical arena with a new musical style, Afro Tchink, inspired by the Tchink system of the late Stan Tohon.
Rabby Slo intends to work to enhance the image of Beninese music and to win back the national and international music scene. We can only wish him success!
Ardiès Sianou
