Biography
Originating from Benin, the compact West African country, the seven school-aged women who form Star Feminine Band deliver a colorful blend of highlife, Congolese rhumba, sato, and garage rock and pop laced with psychedelic touches, all performed with notable skill and buoyant youthful energy. The members first picked up their instruments during free training sessions at a regional camp.
A 2016 radio advertisement aired in the northern Beninese town of Natitingou recruited girls for these lessons, an effort led by local musician André Balaguemon. Respondents included Julienne Sayi on bass, Anne Sayi on guitar, Sandrine Ouei on keyboards, Marguerite Kpetekout on drums, Urrice Borikapei on percussion, and Balaguemon’s daughters Angélique on drums and Grâce Marina on keyboards. Because few women in Benin play instruments and most of the girls, then between six and thirteen, had never touched an electric guitar or keyboard, the project itself was groundbreaking. Balaguemon trained them with a strict rehearsal regimen intended to empower young women in a region marked by sharp gender inequality, and the results were striking. Within roughly two years the septet had coalesced into a daring ensemble with a shared sound and a clear feminist outlook.
By 2018 the group was appearing regularly across the area and rehearsing in a dedicated space donated by Natitingou’s mayor. French recording engineer Jérémie Verdier heard one of their shows while volunteering in Benin and later returned with a team to document their music. Issued in 2020 by French label Born Bad Records, the self-titled debut album brought the vibrant young outfit to an international audience.
A 2016 radio advertisement aired in the northern Beninese town of Natitingou recruited girls for these lessons, an effort led by local musician André Balaguemon. Respondents included Julienne Sayi on bass, Anne Sayi on guitar, Sandrine Ouei on keyboards, Marguerite Kpetekout on drums, Urrice Borikapei on percussion, and Balaguemon’s daughters Angélique on drums and Grâce Marina on keyboards. Because few women in Benin play instruments and most of the girls, then between six and thirteen, had never touched an electric guitar or keyboard, the project itself was groundbreaking. Balaguemon trained them with a strict rehearsal regimen intended to empower young women in a region marked by sharp gender inequality, and the results were striking. Within roughly two years the septet had coalesced into a daring ensemble with a shared sound and a clear feminist outlook.
By 2018 the group was appearing regularly across the area and rehearsing in a dedicated space donated by Natitingou’s mayor. French recording engineer Jérémie Verdier heard one of their shows while volunteering in Benin and later returned with a team to document their music. Issued in 2020 by French label Born Bad Records, the self-titled debut album brought the vibrant young outfit to an international audience.
Albums
Singles
