Zongo Seydou, known as Zêdess, and born on March 17, 1966, in Aboisso, Côte d'Ivoire, is a Burkinabe singer-songwriter from the Mossi people. Zêdess began his musical journey as a percussionist and backing vocalist during his studies at the Lycée Technique d'Abidjan. In 1990, he recorded his first song "Mimi" with the University of Ouagadougou orchestra. Zêdess became known for his socially conscious lyrics addressing issues like corruption and immigration, often incorporating local slang into his French lyrics. He released his debut album Y'a plus de boulot in 1992 and adopted the stage name Zêdess. His second album, Embouteillage, was released in 1995, leading him to leave teaching and gain popularity with the hit "Ouaga sans char". In 1997, he performed in France for the first time at Paris' Divan du Monde. He established himself internationally with albums such as Accroche-toi (2000) and Résistances (2013).
