Key artist of the Ivory Coast music scene, Kajeem is considered one of the best of his generation. Kajeem’s charisma and commitment are fantastic. One could describe his personal style as fast flowing soul and rap flavoured reggae-ragga. His voice casts a spell, with literature as a source of inspiration for his poetic and sharp lyrics.
1969 Born in Treichville one of the hot districts of Abidjan, and cultural heart of the Ivory Coast, Kajeem quickly bathed in a musical environment because of the many bands which existed in that district.
He kept this activity secret until he entered university because of his father's fierce disapproval. In 1990,he created the band Ngowa Posse with which he put his first texts to music. He then joined MUR (University Rap Movement) in 1993, soon became their appointed toaster, and toured the various stages in Abidjan. But beyond his new-found rising fame and his now prominent place in this artistic trend, Kajeem became even more anchored in African Culture with MUR.
The same year, whilst preparing his Bachelor of Arts, he came across an american-Haitian arranger with which he was finally able to do what had seemed complete utopia, produce a 6-track-demo. He was now all set to take part with MUR in Boulibai Sound System at the MASA 1993, thus signing his entry into the official circuit.
In 1995 his performance on Couleurs Tropicales on RFI radio and in Nandjelet during the MASA put him back on track just as he was about to prepare his first album with Fantome his arranger. Much sweat later out came Ngowa, his first album, which was at once appointed "Revelation of the Masa off festival".
Despites its success, this album did not open the doors to the audio-visual media to him. He tried to overcome this obstacle by multiplying his appearances on the underground scenes. This paid off, he was appointed best ragga artist 1998.
During this period, Kajeem hung around with the rasta community of Tafari Studio, increasing his knowledge of rastafarism. This inevitably let him to record his second album "Revelation Time" which came out on 1999. It met with great success and opened the way for a series of concerts both in the Ivory Coast and in West Africa. This album also marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Appointed hip hop Revelation 1999, and from now on in the spotlight, Kajeem, who was as keen as ever on reggae-hip hop was to put an even greater African touch to his music, thereby strenghtening his musical identity. Ivory Coast rhythms will from then on leave an ever stronger imprint on his music.
And it is this musical ambiance which one finds on "La Voix du Ciel", the album which came out on 2000, which turned him into a key African artist, both at the national and regional level and paved the way for several overseas projects. Amongst these Universal Exhibition Hannover 2000 in Germany, Montreux Jazz Festival, Expo.02 and Festival de la Cité in Switzerland, Cultural Forum Barcelona 2004 in Spain… Gold top "better reggae artist ", it is named member of honor of the Red Cross of Ivory Coast in 2004. The following year, whereas its last opus is indicated better reggae album by Eburny Music Award, it ensures the 1st parts of his friend Tiken Jah Fakoly Grenoble and Bataclan in Paris. It is a success. In Switzerland, it collaborates with artists like Moonraisers or Freebase Corporation for which it composed "La vérité rougit les yeux" diffused on the Swiss radio Couleur 3.
Whist gaining popularity in Europe, Kajeem kept his eyes glued on Abidjan where he remained very active in associations and humanitarian groups. He thus became artistic director of many projects, one of them being "Man is a Remedy for Man", an album interpreted by West African artists and produced by the International Committee of the Red Cross; the other one was on behalf of a team of underground artists of which he is a member. He signed also the music of Telefood for FAO. In Abidjan with Fondy, Marseille with Ami and more recently in Vevey with the EquinoX center, it animates workshops of musical writing centered on the rap, near young people in difficulties.
Militant artist, Kajeem expresses in French, English, Spanish and in Baoulé, his mother tongue, the tearing of his country and the evils of our society. The universal range of its committed texts is the reflection of a conscious and positive generation.
After having involved its public with the research of the Voice of the Sky, Kajeem will offer to him in a few weeks a travel in the landscapes interfered urban and African music, through a new album with a stamp resolutely ragga: Positif.
