"O black woman, don't sleep. You can become the president of the republic', sings (freely translated) the Benin Star Feminine Band. A committed septet from the northern Benin town of Natitingou, consisting of girls aged 10 to 17. The group was founded by local musician André Balaguemon who made an appeal to the local radio for girls who wanted to form a band. No experience or musical knowledge was
… needed and from 2016 he started rehearsing with the 7 elected members. It's not even strange that the band was picked up by the French garage rock label Born Bad. Star Feminine Band combines a raw and unpolished garage sound with exhilarating rhythms and combative hymns, in which the hardships African women have to endure (circumcision, young pregnancies and compulsory marriages) are addressed. For a woman from Benin, music is an important medium to express herself and strengthen her position. The very young and enthusiastic Star Feminine Band shines in both. (MR)more
