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Room François Lougah- Ernesto Djedje Built with two levels: a ground floor of 1000 seats and a mezzanine of 500 seats that lead to a terrace with a panoramic view on Plateau, with a luxurious glass wall for the organization of cocktails or meals. It is the most prestigious room of the Palace of the Culture. 
musicians François Lougah ( 1942-1997)
François Lougah, Dago lougah François as real name, was born in 1942 in Lakota (western center of Ivory Coast).After his primary school in Bondoukou and treichville( 1950-1956) he entered Ajavon grammar School in Abidjan(1956-1958) where he will stop his studies in the third form. Then he will go to France where he registered at French Masonry and brickworks school of Lambert street in Paris. In 1961, he will get his vocational training certificate in building. He will meet Philippe Brunet a show promotor, after he had worked In a company and tried to be a professional football player in Aubervilliers. Then his life will change completly. The French Promotor will initiate him to art , first and foremost theatre.
He will register at the dramatic art and lyrical school directed by Mona Sangor(1964-1968) thanks to the French cooperation ministry scholarship.
The building technician became a great Actor taking part in many plays in France, such as “jules cesar” by Shakespeare. He will also take part in many productions of the ORTF such as “ Shaka” by Roger Kahan , with Bachir Touré and “ le Commandant X “ by J-P Carrère.
Brunet will also initiate Lougah to Cinema: From 1965 to 1967 he is his Assistant Director and take part with him in a short film: “le rodeo du feu” an he will be the main actor in “ Aventure en france” and “Africains de France”. He has also taken part in the film “ un si charmant garcon”and produced many advertising sketches.
As far as his career is concerned, Lougah will make the choice of music definitely.
It is also Philippe Brunet who will introduce him to Bruno Coquatrix. The latter will first of all make him learn piano and music theory with Alain Raizaimbla, Rome first prize winner.
Then he will make a group with his compatriots joseph Miézan-Bognini and Michel Parayso, “ Le Trio midiloms”and another with Yves Beugré and Viera Koré, les “Les Cocoblicos”.
After two years training of music hall at Olympia(1966-1968), he will be the radio programme “le jeu de la chance”, second prize winner.
The career of Lougah is then launched. Particularly, after he has met international great Stars(Gilbert Becaud, Mireille Mathieu, James brown, Fernandel, Eddie Constantine, Claude François, Miryam Makéba) who will initiate him to show-business and stage business.
During three years, he is ORTF “ interlude” variety programme star. But his meeting with Manu Dibango will particularly be decisive on his career. His first disc Pécoussa will be the result of their work. It is a great continental success, indeed international success.
He will be invited everywhere, in many worldwide festivals, in Algeria, in Tchad, in Greece, in Bulgaria, In Midem of Nice, Carnival of Rio, (many times) popular songs festival in Lomé(1972-1973) and so on. He has also taken part in many african national holidays such as those of Central African Republic of Bokassa, Togo of Eyadema.
As far as his rich discography is concerned, it is important to know that he sang in Dida, his mother tongue for a long time. Most of his discs have been recorded at philips’.
Among his successful discs, except ‘Pecoussa’, we can note ‘Nayowi’, ‘Toigny’, ‘(African hit parade) ‘Yoco you mon’, ‘ Contraste’, ‘Kouho-Kouho), ‘ Glokali Zaza’, ‘Bernadette’, ‘Moustique il est la’, ‘Kouglizia’.
His portraits was printed on clothes as he knew success. He remained the ‘first ivorian international voice in his periods of difficulties. He is the one who has open the way to Ivorian variety music.
He charms by his impeccable clothing, his theatrical presence and his admirable voice.
Some advantages that made him win his famous face to face with Bailly Spinto in 1983.
Ernesto Djedje (1947-1983)
According to the status, the real name of Ernesto Djedje is Ble Loue Djedje Ernest. He was born in 1947 in Tahiraguhe, in the region of Daloa, capital of the centre west , ‘ the country of the artists’ like Gagnoa the second capital of this region.
When he was ten years old, Ernesto Djedje was initiated to Tohoulou whose one variant is ziglibity, which will be propelled in Ivory Coast later on. But the singer began his career by modern varieties dominated by the Rumba and the pop music at that time. His first experiences began around 1964-1965 in Daloa in the orchestra ‘les antilopes’ when he was a guitar player. He will be recruited there by Amede Pierre, the Senior of Ivorian Music. Ernesto Djedje will be the Conductor of Ivoiro Star , the orchestra of Amede for more than two years(1966-1968).
As the young guitar player is ambitious, he will leave Amede in 1968 to France where he will meet Francois Lougah and Manu Dibango. He will get his first disc: “Anowa’ from their collaboration, highly influenced by soul music like “ Pecoussa” of Francois Lougah.
With this disc, the Ivorian people discover another Ivorian talented artist that shows a great deal of promise. “ anowa” will be followed by “ Mamadou Coulibaly” which will also be successful.
Ernesto came back in Ivory Coast in 1973 and was certainly requested by Emmanuel Dioulo, CEO of ARSO ( management of the south west Region) to be responsible for the cultural animation of the town of San-pedro. Dioulo will buy a full orchestra for him: the San-pedro orchestra, Ernesto will come back to his first love : music of research, inspired from tradition . Guitar player, singer, composer, former conductor and also research worker, he feels ready to experience his musical project: the ziglibity one variant of tohoulou
The experience of ARSO will only last three years. Misunderstandings occure and Ernesto leave his patron to Abidjan to work for his own sake. He will make two songs: ‘Zibote’ and “Aguisse”that will propel him as the king of Ziglibity definitely. Ernesto Djedje reaches the height of fame. In the words of Professor Yacouba Konate : ‘ More than any other theory of authenticity, more than any speech recommending the return to the origins, the Ziglibity gives a sens and a form to the will of africans who want to eat the sap of their roots. It is an action, a re-creation that found a new esthetic on the historical and cultural base of the Ivorian society’. In 1983,the brutal death of the artist put an end to that exceptional experience since the ‘numerous heirs’ failed in their attempt to continue his works. The fact remains that Ernesto Djedje remained in history as an inspired and gifted artist, a genuine and brillant musician, a spectacular and agile dancer, with his famous header that fit the expectation of people, a convinced and convincing defender of national cultural values. After his death, his musicians colleagues have made tribute to him by organizing greatest funerals never seen before.
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