BETA SIMON - Biography

My piece of life, like any life, is eternal. The birth is only one of the stages that leads us to the top or bottom according to our inclinations. Like the bété proverb says: the tree falls on the side where it is leaning when it is cut down. The souls waiting for incarnation await a smile and a human heat to be able to materialize

Thus Mr Koré Yoh Jean and Boguhet Logbo Yvonne, under the law of affinity and attraction force, transcended a smile and a human heat that gave birth to an heart in the material universe to which they gave my name.

My name is YOH Bailly Simon, born on November 1st, 1964 in Bolia (Mid-west of the Ivory Coast), in a calm and peaceful environment, a village without electricity, lit by the sun and the moon.

Nature, Fishing and Mysticism

When i was very young, I was not motivated by school. Since birth, we spoke bété. The beginning of elementary school meant for us an obligation to learn the French language. I was rather impassioned by the virtues of the plants, the secrets of nature. I liked to exchange with mystical old men, to go fishing, to harvest, to go with my mother to the fields where I shouted and sang to prevent the birds from eating the harvest.
I thus did not see what was more important to learn at school than all these things. Why teach us the spirit from competitiveness?

I only knew that the elementary school was located in the close village at about 10 km and I had to go on foot. Considering my motivation, I learned with difficulty but when sometimes I would understand one idea, it would never get out of my head. I remember when I was 10, I asked to my teacher why we pronounce the letter "A" that way and not another? And also why is it necessary to learn the French History, of Louis XIV if we do not know our own history.

To Sing to not become disenchanted

As a teenager, I started to run away. I went to Daloa which is a big city. I wanted to discover many different things. I would have liked to remain in my village to wander in the forest but I wanted to stop school. I thus started to discover the modern life. I started to learn mechanics. But I did not find time to sing. My curiosity was not satisfied.

I thus left in a place dedicated to artistic creation, a place where the musicians were trained. Among them, Liazou Pedro, singer of the group "Zouzouko Africa", appreciated my way of singing and I remained at his sides. From this moment, I had several occasions to take the microphone and to sing. Every time it was a success. I was then called "Bété Alpha" (the Alpha Blondy of bétés). I said to myself that if there were Alpha, there could also be Beta (the second letter of the Greek alphabet). That's how I found my name Beta Simon.

Abidjan, First Album

I then left with the OFI (Orchestra of Fraternity Of the Ivory Coast) of Bouaké in North the Ivory Coast where I was a manager. I dealt with music instruments and materials. It was a way for me to train with the orchestra.
I then went to Abidjan where I was discovered as a singer. Arsene Douho, a famous producer in Ivory Coast, took care of me as well as the artist Gnahoré Djimi.

My first album was released in 1991. It is entitled "Beta Simon and Baïssadé". This first opus had an enormous success. I sang in mòoré (language of Burkina Faso) and in bété. This album allowed me to be famous in West Africa. I went to Ghana, via Togo, Benin and Nigeria where I was lodged at Fela Anikulapo Kuti. From there I left to Burkina Faso.

Second album, Burkina Faso, a Star is born …

Arrived in Burkina late in the night when I was supposed to meet a friend, I was arrested by police officers. I told them my name "Simon Beta". Obviously they did not believe me. How can an artist rove in the streets in the middle of the night? I then showed them my album. When they were convinced of my identity and not knowing how to find my friend, they brought me to the radio where the moderator received me. My friend who was lying listened to the broadcast and came to join me. From there, I remained at his place a few years in Burkina Faso. It is in this country that I composed the songs of my second album.

In 1996, I released "Music Spirit". The title "Nisalaka Zueta" sung in moré was a hit in Burkina Faso. In this song I say « … the locust is afraid of the margouillat (Gecko), the margouillat is afraid of the snake, the snake is afraid of the mongoose, the mongoose is afraid of the dog, is the dog afraid of the man and why isn't the man afraid of God? ».
This song was made up when times were hard for me and I saw a margouillat which jumped on a locust. I liked to sing in Burkinabe languages more especially as my father was one of the first to receive Burkinabes in the village. He lent a part of the lands to them. A bond of friendship was created between us, between the children of the village of the Ivory Coast and Burkinabe, who were same generation as me. That already enabled me to know the moré accent. Gradually, I started to understand the words.

Third album, Paris, illegal immigrant

In 1999, I recorded "Ramde" which means "the rumblings of rifle". Why these rumblings of rifle? Just for a question of money, land, woman. This year, I left for France for a service, I was welcomed by the storm and the cold.

A new chapter of my life started. I was without official papers in Paris, forced to accept odd jobs. In 2002, I was welcomed in Brittany where I started again my life of peasant.

Tiken Jah Fakoly and Beta Simon

Then, Tiken Jah Fakoly whom I knew from the Ivory Coast proposed to be my producer.

Indeed, in 1996, after the release of Nisalaka Zueta in Ivory Coast, i was with journalists and Tiken. I announced them that I wanted to introduce them a young man named Tiken Jah Fakoly. Today I present him to you. One day, it is him who will present me to other people. The life, it is like that.

Following the offer of my friend Tiken and because of incomprehension between the politicians in Ivory Coast, I recorded in his studio in Bamako (Mali) in 2005 and we sang a piece together on the title "Iyo", with his musicians and Dave Kynner as Music Arranger. This album entitled "Kraity Payan Guez" was pointed out by the music lovers of the reggae music. I also took part in the album of Tiken by making a featuring on the title "My Ivory Coast" in the album entitled "the African".