African music is my identity, says Johnny Sourou – Tribune Online

A musician in a patterned blue robe plays a drum and sings into a microphone on stage, with a raised drumstick and people in the background, capturing the vibrant spirit of African music celebrated by artists like Johnny Sourou.

AFRICAN music, with its rich rhythms, ancestral instruments, and soul-stirring dialects, is more than just sound to Johnny Sourou—it is identity, heritage, and mission.

The veteran Beninese gospel artist has said he is first and foremost an advocate for African culture and tradition, a conviction that flows through every note he sings and every stage he graces.

With a career spanning over 30 years, Johnny Sourou has become a living vessel of African heritage, known for seamlessly blending traditional Beninese and broader African…