World renowned music group “MAGIC SYSTEM” formed by four youngsters (Asalfo, Goudé, Tino and Manadja) from Abidjan’s rough-and-ready Marcory district granted audience to me over the weekend, on the 2nd edition of FEMUA (Festival des Musiques Urbaines d’Anoumanbo), an international music festival organized by the band on April 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th 2009 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Asalfo and the band, now known as Magic System, author, of the title track “Premier Gaou”, sold worldwide, have come back to Anoumambo, the slum where they grew up. They have opened a primary school in order to fight against illiteracy and help poor parents send their offspring to school. They also have organized FEMUA, an international music festival, in order to raise fund to help local populations. Today, MAGIC SYSTEM is known worldwide, its members are rich, popular and powerful, but they have kept links with their home town. Asalfo, the lead singer of the band has opened up to me. Excerpts of his interview below:
Selay: What’s your message for ivorian and global youth?
Asalfo: I have a message of hope for younger generations, it’s important to follow the example of those who work hard to make their dream come true. They must think creatively, plan, adjust and persevere to succeed. Today, we’re offering a primary school as a gift to Anoumambo dwellers, we’re proud to do that because we know local populations need such facilities. It’s then a great honor for us to lead this project to its end. I hope this festival will drag on and will attract more and more participants from every corner of the world as other international festivals.
Selay : You’ve just offered a primary school to Anoumambo dwellers to raise awareness on schooling issue, but today few are those kids in Anoumambo who would like to continue to go to school, most of them want to do music now. Do you have a particular message for all those kids and young singers that are here today at FEMUA? Do you have any project for them?
Asalfo: Well, if they have to make a choice between money and school, I would advise them to choose school. Even I and my fellow magicians (other members of the band) are successful music singers today because we attended school, and what we learned at school has served, it has opened many doors in the field of music indeed. They must also keep in mind that it is not easy to succeed in the field of music: only 10 or 15% can succeed. But those people interested in music career must not fold arms and quit, they must work hard to achieve their goal.
For more about MAGIC SYSTEM, visit: www.magic-system.fr
Selay M.K.
