Bastien Junior was born on June 10, 1990 in Côte d'Ivoire. With a passion for music from an early age, he released his first track inspired by the coupé-décalé style that exploded in Côte d'Ivoire in the early 2000s at the age of 18, with "Kebaro" (2008), released under the pseudonym Safarel Obiang. Quickly integrated into the coupé-décalé scene, he collaborated with a number of Ivorian figures in the style, such as Bebi Philip and S-Kelly, and unveiled singles that got the country dancing: Kuitata (2011), "Ploto nayo" (2016) and "Graté graté grattanhou" (2018). Safarel Obiang's commitment to the economic issues that concern the Ivorian people has earned him the title of "people's artist". His stance, coupled with his ability to produce hits, made him one of the key figures of Ivorian music in the 2000s. With titles such as "Tchintchin", "Woyo woyo" and "Manger chier", the singer amassed millions of listens. His collaborations with numerous artists in the industry, such as the rapper Kerozen, or tracks like "Drill décalé", make Safarel Obiang attentive to the evolution of musical aesthetics and make him one of the most innovative artists in coupé-décalé. As a sign of his popularity, Obiang has won numerous awards over the years, including the PRIMUD for best male coupé-décalé artist in 2018 and 2019, and best French-speaking artist at the 2019 African Talent Awards.
