Biography
Known as the "Queen of Afro-Zouk," Monique Seka has drawn on the sounds of her native region while incorporating global influences. In an interview from the early 1990s she stated, "When I sing, I don't see Africa, but I see all the Black people." Born into a musical family, she entered the profession in 1982 by joining her uncle Jhon Morgan's ensemble, the Maya Melodye Band. Following an extended period with the Ivory Coast TV Orchestra, she initiated her independent work in 1985 through the love-song collection Tontie Affou. Four years afterward her second release, Missounwa, earned the Gran Prix de la Musique Afro-Caraibeene. Her third album, Okaman, appeared in 1995 and extended her reach worldwide; its title track surpassed 1,000,000 copies sold.
Albums
