BIOGRAPHY

He stands out in the West African music scene for his unadorned folk style, singing while playing guitar with the finesse of a musical goldsmith. Solo or as part of a group, the artist stays grounded, no doubt due to the influence of his first musical training in the local church choir. Born Brice Tchègnon, the young man’s ancestral roots go back to the legendary Pays-Adja. Following his parents’ example, he began to explore music and honed his skills to the cadence of the metronome, eventually becoming the lead singer of Benin International Musical (BIM). 

In February 2024, he performed at the Institut français du Bénin where his genuine sincerity earned him even more fans. He puts his whole being into his music and the subtle vibes that he is able to pass on to his listeners. A favourite with his generation, he spares no effort to further develop the discipline of rhythm. As a drummer in various Benin bands across the country, including Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou, and for the late Gnonnas Pedro, Jimmy Belah also takes up the pen to express his vision of things, of his Africa in motion, fully immersed in globalization. His skills as an arranger and composer have earned him privileged access to a number of creative contemporaries, including Beninese singers Sessimè and Faty.