Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas [LP]

Jess Sah Bi - Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas [LP]

Jess Sah Bi is wellknown as half of the legendary duo Jess Sah Bi & Peter One who brought homegrown CountryAmericana to the West African masses with their smash debut Our Garden Needs Its Flowers in the mid-1980s. Touring stadiums and reaching listeners worldwide, their music has racked up millions of spins on YouTube and remains imprinted in the hearts of Ivorians of a certain age. ATFA reissued their album in 2018, garnering critical acclaim from publications including Pitchfork and Rolling Stone and reaching a new generation of listeners outside Ivory Coast (Cote dIvoire).Sometime in the early 90s, Die Sahbi”or Jesse, as he known to friends” became gravely ill with an unknown ailment and almost died. He visited various doctors and all kinds of religious healers and nothing helped until he became a born-again Christian. He recorded an album of music praising God in order to honor a promise he made to himself at the depths of his desperation in the hospital. That album, Jesus-Christ Ne DeA§oit Pas [Jesus Christ Does Not Let Us Down], came out in 1991 and sold around 3000 cassettes in Ivory Coast. The master tape was lost along the way so the recording has never been on digital platforms until now.Jesse didnt have much time to record while visiting South Carolina, and he enlisted some American musicians (Robert Fortner and Gary Davis) to help. They added acoustic guitar, percussion and keyboard accompaniment to Jesses soaring French and Gouro vocals, harmonica and finger-picked acoustic. The resulting recording is deeply soothing and contemplative music that perfectly compliments the songs already embraced by millions.Jesus-Christ Ne DeA§oit Pas is Jess Sah Bis first and only gospel album. Fortunately, fans responded with enthusiasm: widespread radio airplay and concerts followed, along with a growing solo profile in the country. The first big gospel artists in Ivory Coast were the duo Mathieu et Constance, who emerged in 1989. There was a bigger gospel music movement in English-speaking counties like Ghana and Nigeria (Christians make up roughly 40% of the population in Ivory Coast, slightly less than Muslims). In the years since Jesus-Christs release, gospel music in Ivory Coast has grown to become a key part of music culture in the country. Spiritual music appears in community actives across the public and private spectrum from religious gatherings and parties to television broadcasts and music festivals. And, as it has evolved and indigenized locally, gospel music has picked up elements of traditional Ivorian music, reggae and soul.Jesse didnt have any intention of working in Christian music but he realized, You dont make music to make money”you want to send a message.