Franck HOUENOU
"Francky Voice"
Lead vocals + kpawhlè tam-tam
The voice of the purposeful concert: to narrate, to interpret, to pass on.
The band
Five artisans of a single genre
DIVINE SOUND was born in 2016 in Porto-Novo. The band went through a distillation, not a decline: from nine to five musicians, each now a craftsman of one shared sonic signature, the AYIKPAHOUN.
2016
Founded in Porto-Novo
10 years
On stage
9 → 5
Distillation, not decline
Sidoine WANVOEGBE
"Le Volcan"
Percussion & Gangan
Keeper of the rhythmic treasure: Massè, Djègbé, Kaka, Akpala.
Ricardo LOKO
"Rico Beat"
Drums & pad
The machine in the hands of man, never the other way around.
Geoffroy AHOUNOU
"Ahougef"
Bass guitar
The connecting thread: unity, proven note after note.
Hilaris M. SABI
"H-KEY"
Piano & keyboards
The harmonic architect, from swing to Beninese heritage.
Photos © Thiéry Koudjou
History
Ten years, five voices
Founded in 2016 in Porto-Novo, DIVINE SOUND first brought together nine musicians around a single project: giving the heritage rhythms of Southern Benin and the Plateau a contemporary stage. Time did its sorting — not from lack, but from demand.
Ten years on stage later, five artisans now carry the AYIKPAHOUN forward: each an instrument, a voice, a responsibility. A distillation, not a decline.