Highlights: In Togo, a national tribute to Bella Bellow, the bewitching icon of Togolese song. Five decades after her death, she is the subject of a tribute in Togo until February. This tribute is marked by various events: concerts, book signings, etc. Her daughter Nadia, who was barely a year old when her mother died, is moved: "It's a source of pride, it's regrets, I wish she was there" The government has decided to protect his works for another twenty years.

Five decades after the death of Togolese diva Bella Bellow, she is the subject of a national tribute in Togo until February. This tribute is marked by various events: concerts, book signings, etc.

In Togo, a national tribute to Bella Bellow, the bewitching icon of Togolese song

Five decades after the death of Togolese diva Bella Bellow, she is the subject of a national tribute in Togo until February. This tribute is marked by various events: concerts, book signings, etc. This is an opportunity to look back at the history of this voice that rocked the period of independence.

Listen - 03:26

Togolese singer and music icon, Bella Bellow. © DR

By: RFI Follow

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With our correspondent in Lomé, Peter Sassou Dogbé

Bella Bellow, whose real name is Georgette Nafiatou Adjoavi, was born in 1945 in Tsévié. Her talent quickly won admiration and made her known. In 1965, she performed in Dahomey for the independence festivities. But his bewitching voice really conquered Africa during his participation in the 1st Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar in 1966. In 1969, she recorded her first album, Rockia.

Former Prime Minister Joseph Kokou Koffigoh was his guitarist in the orchestra, "Les Sans-Culottes" in high school, remembers well. "At first, she sang only in the local language, and yet her singing had a universal accent. Bella Bellow sang with great emotion. There was a lot of emotion, but a lot of serenity," he recalls.

Bella Below is all the rage at the Zenith in Paris and in Brazil. She was preparing for her American tour when, on December 10, 1973, on her return from Atakpamé to Togo, she died in a tragic car accident at the age of 27. Her daughter Nadia, who was barely a year old when her mother died, is moved: "It's a source of pride, it's regrets, it's a whole. I wish she was there. I think that at this age, to already have this depth is a grace.

Like a rose, Bella Bellow lived the moment of a morning. His works have been covered several times by great artists, Akofa Akoussah, Ribouem and Angélique Kidjo, among others.

Protecting your works

Bella Bellow leaves unforgettable works thanks to her vocal beauty and profound wisdom. To mark this tribute, the government has decided to protect his works for another twenty years.

The protection of economic rights in artistic works, which today is fifty years post-mortem, has recently been extended from fifty years to seventy years post-mortem, in an emergency procedure by the government, in order to allow the works of our national pride, Bella Bellow, to continue to be covered by economic rights. Otherwise, these works would fall into the public domain that very year, fifty years after his death. The government took it upon itself to take this initiative as a matter of urgency and today, its works will be protected for another twenty years and the same will be true for the works of all Togolese artists," said Kossi Gbényo Lamadokou, Minister of Culture and Tourism, speaking to Peter Sassou Dogbé.

00:44

Kossi Gbényo Lamadokou, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Togo

Peter Dogbe

Read alsoKeeping Bella Bellow's Flame Alive

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In Togo, a national tribute to Bella Bellow, the bewitching icon of Togolese song

In Togo, a national tribute to Bella Bellow, the bewitching icon of Togolese song

Protecting your works

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