Real name Yoh Bailly Simon, Afro-reggae singer Beta Simon was born on November 1, 1964 in Bolia, in west-central Côte d'Ivoire. During his youth, he discovered the oral tradition of the elders and earned the nickname "Guehie Zappa" or "Guehie Gnadou" (Child Prodigy). In 1982, at the age of 18, he turned to music to express the richness of his culture, deciding to sing in Bété, his mother tongue, but also in several other languages, such as Moré, Sénoufo, Dioula, Wolof and "Bassaïdé", which he invented himself. Thanks to this openness, his reputation grew in West Africa and even in Europe. In addition to his many concerts, he has released several albums, including Kraity Payan Guez in 2007, produced by Tiken Jah Fakoly, Soupe de Pierres in 2011 and Bozoua in 2016.
