Abidjan artist Asna releases debut single and video for 'Atalaku'

Music

Abidjan multi-disciplinary artist Asna has released her debut single and music video ‘Atalaku’: “an ode to a free generation totally reinvested in the genesis of its identity”.

Regularly providing online commentary and thoughts on the changes within African societies, Asna does the same on ‘Atalaku’. For the video she worked closely with Ivorian film director William Niava to bring her vision to life, designing every detail of the visual which was shot and produced in her home of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Asna is a key figure within the new afro-electronic scene and operates as a DJ, playing venues and events like Afropunk, Nyege Nyege and Nuits Sonores, and a model and muse for the likes of LP de Gagoue & JP Gautier.

Asna explains the inspiration and meaning behind the single and video: “Atalaku is a word of Congolese origin (Lingala), which means “look here” or “dedication”, introduced to Ivorian and West African DJs in the 2000s with the birth of “coupé décalé”.

To DJ’s, “Atalaku” announces the presence of an important person and praises them for calling out societal issues. A Griot of modern times, the DJ brings new life to a musical culture directly influenced by their environment (social, historical …). And the “coupé décalé” is the result.

This video and the song are the “Atalaku” of a new generation (Ivorian, African) which claims a free and simple appropriation of its identity and its environment – that’s long been under the influence inherited from past regimes.”