Photo: Syllart Records — CC BY-SA 3.0Source
Ibrahima Sylla
- April 2, 1956
- December 30, 2013
- 57 years
About Ibrahima Sylla
Ibrahima Sylla, 57, Ivorian record producer.
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Full Biography
|Ibrahima Sylla (2 April 1956 – 30 December 2013) was a Senegalese record producer born in Ivory Coast and founder of the African music label Syllart Records. He was a musician whose production and music direction defined popular African music. From West African dance, to Congolese soukous (sung in Lingala), to melodic griot-led songs, Sylla's signature as a music producer is unmistakable. He has demonstrated his familiarity with many contemporary African musical genres, and he has worked with most of Africa's musical greats.
Biography
Sylla was born in the Ivory Coast, into a prominent family; his father was Guinean (French Guinea) and was an influential public figure who was well known in West Africa, and whose work took the family to Dakar in Senegal. Sylla developed his love for music whilst studying at a university in Paris, France. He released compilation albums of his favorite Salsa music, and from 1980 he embarked on record production work. He financed an album by Étoile de Dakar, featuring Youssou N'Dour and Orchestra Baobab. It was in Paris that Sylla developed working relationships with Africa's upcoming musicians, many of whom were living there.
Sylla has worked with many of Africa's contemporary musicians and he has demonstrated finesse in his production of their music. He worked with many of Zaire's (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) greats, including: Les Quatre Etoiles - the renowned DRC group consisting of soukous greats Bopol, Wuta Mayi, Syran Mbenza and Nyboma; Pépé Kallé, Sam Mangwana, Tshala Muana, Mbilia Bel, and others. Sylla developed the soukous concept of tingling, repeated, guitar melodies, adding orchestral harmonies, innovative key changes, and introducing tinges of salsa music. An example of this can be experienced in his production of Nyboma's groundbreaking solo album, Anicet.
Zairean Soukous music is highly popular across Africa, South America, and among World Music fans in the West. Sylla's soukous productions are still celebrated, and they continue to influence the shape and direction of African dance music.
Sylla's production excellence is also demonstrated by his productions of West African dance music, such as in Oumou Dioubate's albums, and in his direction of Malian and Senegalese griot-led songs. He has also worked with Baaba Maal, Bako Dagnon, Ismael Lo, Pape Seck, Oumou Sangare, Gnonnàs Pedro, Kouyate Sory Kandia, Bembeya Jazz, Fanta Damba, Cape Verde Show, Alpha Blondy, Africando, and Miriam Makeba.
A recent compilation of his work, the five-album 20 Years History - The Very Best of Syllart Productions (Sono/Sterns Archived 26 August 2005 at the Wayback Machine), introduces new listeners to Sylla's work.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahima_Sylla
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 30, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Ibrahima Sylla's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was the music producer Ibrahima Sylla born?
- A.2 April 1956correct
- B.15 March 1960
- C.30 December 2013
- D.20 August 1950
Ibrahima Sylla was born on 2 April 1956 according to the biography.
Source: biographical introduction
2.In which country was Ibrahima Sylla born?
- A.Senegal
- B.Ivory Coastcorrect
- C.Guinea
- D.Democratic Republic of Congo
The text states that Ibrahima Sylla was a Senegalese record producer born in Ivory Coast.
Source: biographical introduction
3.What is the name of the African music label founded by Ibrahima Sylla?
- A.Syllart Recordscorrect
- B.West African Sounds
- C.Griot Records
- D.Soukous Productions
Ibrahima Sylla was the founder of the African music label Syllart Records.
Source: biographical introduction
4.Where did Ibrahima Sylla develop his love for music?
- A.Paris, Francecorrect
- B.Dakar, Senegal
- C.Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- D.Kinshasa, Zaire
Ibrahima Sylla developed his love for music while studying at a university in Paris, France.
Source: biography section
5.What was the profession of Ibrahima Sylla's father?
- A.University professor
- B.Musician
- C.Record producer
- D.Influential public figurecorrect
Ibrahima Sylla's father was a Guinean influential public figure well known in West Africa.
Source: biography section
6.In what year did Ibrahima Sylla begin his record production work?
- A.1990
- B.1980correct
- C.1985
- D.1975
Ibrahima Sylla embarked on record production work from 1980.
Source: biography section
7.Which group did Ibrahima Sylla finance an album for, featuring Youssou N'Dour?
- A.Bembeya Jazz
- B.Étoile de Dakarcorrect
- C.Les Quatre Etoiles
- D.Cape Verde Show
Ibrahima Sylla financed an album by Étoile de Dakar, which featured Youssou N'Dour and Orchestra Baobab.
Source: biography section
8.Which of these musicians is explicitly mentioned as working with Ibrahima Sylla?
- A.Fela Kuti
- B.Hugh Masekela
- C.Miriam Makebacorrect
- D.Manu Dibango
Miriam Makeba is listed among the many artists who worked with Ibrahima Sylla.
Source: biography section
9.What is the name of Nyboma's solo album produced by Ibrahima Sylla?
- A.Soukous
- B.Anicetcorrect
- C.Lingala
- D.Syllart
Ibrahima Sylla's production of Nyboma's groundbreaking solo album is titled Anicet.
Source: biography section
10.Congolese soukous music produced by Ibrahima Sylla is typically sung in which language?
- A.French
- B.Bambara
- C.Lingalacorrect
- D.Wolof
The text notes that Ibrahima Sylla's soukous productions were sung in Lingala.
Source: biographical introduction
11.In which city did Ibrahima Sylla's family move due to his father's work?
- A.Abidjan
- B.Paris
- C.Conakry
- D.Dakarcorrect
Ibrahima Sylla's father's work took the family to Dakar in Senegal.
Source: biography section
12.What specific musical innovation is associated with Ibrahima Sylla's soukous productions?
- A.Electronic synthesizers
- B.Heavy drum machine use
- C.Traditional African choral arrangements
- D.Tingling, repeated guitar melodiescorrect
Ibrahima Sylla developed the soukous concept of tingling, repeated, guitar melodies.
Source: biography section
13.On what date did Ibrahima Sylla pass away?
- A.2 April 2013
- B.26 August 2005
- C.1 January 2014
- D.30 December 2013correct
Ibrahima Sylla passed away on 30 December 2013.
Source: biographical introduction
14.Which of these groups is listed as part of the Zairean group Les Quatre Etoiles?
- A.Syran Mbenzacorrect
- B.Baaba Maal
- C.Ismael Lo
- D.Alpha Blondy
Syran Mbenza is mentioned as one of the soukous greats in the group Les Quatre Etoiles.
Source: biography section
15.What is the title of the compilation album released that spans 20 years of Ibrahima Sylla's work?
- A.Syllart 20 Years
- B.History of African Music
- C.The Very Best of Syllart Productionscorrect
- D.Griot-led Songs Compilation
The compilation is titled 20 Years History - The Very Best of Syllart Productions.
Source: biography section
16.Which of the following is cited as a genre Ibrahima Sylla introduced into his soukous productions?
- A.Salsacorrect
- B.Hip hop
- C.Reggae
- D.Jazz
Ibrahima Sylla introduced tinges of salsa music into his soukous productions.
Source: biography section
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