Benin International Musical (BIM) pays tribute to the music of the forebears of Dahomey. They blend vodoun rhythms, traditional ceremonial songs and electronic melodies in a spicy Beninese style with trip pop grooves, hip hop and rock.
Benin has long been home to a vibrant and innovative music scene, with funk and the modernisation of voodoo rhythms influencing bands like Arcade Fire, Franz Ferdinand and Vampire Weekend.
With a groove all their own, the seven artists of BIM pay tribute to the music of their ancestors, reflecting the music of traditional ‘Ago’ festivals, ceremonies linked to social events and the trendy clubs of Cotonou, as well as evangelical churches and convents where vodoun divinities are implored.
The group’s aim is to show the world this country’s rich musical heritage through concerts, workshops (percussion, singing, dance) and conferences as well as developing training projects in Benin to promote recording, computer-assisted music, video, photography and the media, with funding from Radio France, TV5 Monde, and other cultural institutions.