Kajeem, an essential figure in the Ivorian music scene and hailed as one of the best of his generation, captivates with his charisma, commitment, influence, and creativity. His reggae-ragga style, infused with soul and rap, confidently imposes a lively flow that gives him a distinct and personal style. Drawing from the arsenal of literature, his enchanting voice delivers invigorating poetry with incisive words.
Born in Treichville, one of the vibrant neighborhoods of Abidjan, Kajeem, originally destined for a diplomatic career, chose the path of music to express his early lyrics clandestinely, founding the Ngowa Posse in 1990. He made his mark on the Abidjan music scene with the Mouvement Universitaire du Rap (MUR), joining in 1993 and becoming its prominent toaster.
With a degree in literature, he released his debut album, "Ngowa," and was designated as a "Revelation" at the MASA Off (Market for African Arts and Entertainment) in 1997. The following year, he was awarded the title of "best reggae artist." It was during this time that he frequented the Rastafarian community of the Tafari Studio, where he recorded "Revelation Time" two years later. This album achieved widespread success and marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Named "Hip-Hop Revelation 1999," Kajeem solidified his style, delving deeper into African rhythms. This ambiance permeated his album "La Voix du Ciel," released in Africa in 2000 and distributed in Europe in 2004. This work established him as a national and regional music icon in Africa and earned him several international appearances, including the 2000 Hanover Universal Exposition in Germany, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Expo.02, and the Festival de la Cité in Switzerland. Kajeem was named an honorary member of the Red Cross of Côte d'Ivoire in 2004. The following year, his latest album "Positif" was awarded the Best Reggae Album by the Eburny Music Award. He also opened for his friend Tiken Jah Fakoly in Grenoble and at the Bataclan in Paris, as well as for Anthony B and Sizzla in the Netherlands. These were resounding successes. In Switzerland, he collaborated with artists like Moonraisers and Freebase Corporation, composing "La vérité rougit les yeux," which received extensive airplay on radios.
While leaving his mark on European stages, Kajeem remained highly active in humanitarian and associative circles. He closely collaborated on numerous musical projects produced by the ICRC, directing the artistic direction of the project "Man, a Remedy for Man" (2002), writing and composing the single "Humanitarian Refrain" (2006), also for the ICRC, and scoring the film "Child Soldier" (2004). He also composed the music for the FAO's Téléfood campaign (2004) and wrote "Demain c’est aujourd’hui" for the ONUCI (2008). More recently, he wrote, composed, and directed the artistic direction of the single "Brisons le silence" (2012) for IRC and contributed to the campaign "Healthcare in Danger" (2012) for the ICRC.
In Abidjan, with Fondy and the Goethe Institute, in Ouagadougou with the Madiba Mathai cultural center, in Marseille with AMI, and in Vevey with the Equinoxe center, he conducts rap-focused music writing workshops for disadvantaged youth. In 2007, Kajeem appeared on the "Decolonize!" compilation and supported the Survie association project, notably by giving a memorable concert in Paris.
As a militant artist, Kajeem expresses in French, English, Spanish, and Baoulé, his native language, the turmoil of his country and the societal ills. The universal scope of his committed lyrics reflects a conscious and positive generation.
After leading his audience in search of "La Voix du Ciel," Kajeem returned in 2007 with "Positif," an album with a resolutely ragga tone. Enriched by all his experiences and encounters, he released "Qui a intérêt ?" Presented by experts as the most accomplished of his career, it was crowned the best reggae album of 2008 in Côte d’Ivoire. Lively, diverse, and above all extremely sensitive, this album constitutes a decisive step in Kajeem's ascent to the summits.
On October 16, 2010, the concept album "Ghetto Reporters Vol.1" was released, a collaboration with Spyrow, one of his lieutenants, aimed at addressing current themes and bringing his young colleague into the spotlight.(Kajeem.com)