Ismaël Isaac, born in 1966, is a prominent Ivorian reggae singer known for his “afro-optimism.” He gained early success with the mandingue reggae trio *Ismaël Isaac et Les Frères Keïta*, notably through their participation in the single “Africa For Africa,” a song against famine in Africa. They performed at major concerts in Côte d’Ivoire alongside legends like Youssou Ndour and Franco. After releasing their first cassettes *Liberté* (featuring the hit “Nelson Mandela”) and *Tchilaba* in 1986, they became a rising force, participating in events like Reggae Sunsplash and Amnesty International in 1988. Their 1989 cassette *Yatiman* solidified their international presence, and that same year, they recorded “Children of Africa” with Bob Marley’s band, the Wailers, during their visit to Abidjan.
Ismaël Isaac et Les frères Keita
