That was a really tough moment for the band.” Right up until the 1980s the band was still successful and touring in Niger, Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Angola and Côte d’Ivoire. But with political upheavals in Benin, increasing financial pressures, and the deaths of guitarist Bernard ‘Papillon’ Zoundegnon and vocalist Yehoussi Leopold, Poly-Rythmo seemed destined to ease gently into musical history. However, deep in the heart of Cotonou, a core of original band-members were still playing that transcendent mix of heavy funk and Benin psych.
“Tumeshafanya kazi mara nyingi tu na Fela Kuti kila alipofanya maonyesho yake Cotonou [mji Mkuu wa Benin] na mara nyingi tulikutana naye EMI Studio Lagos nchini Nigeria”alisema Clement mmoja wa viongozi wa Poly Rythmo. Mpaka kufikia mwaka 1980 bendi hii ilifanyikiwa kufanya maonyesho katika nchi mbalimbali barani Afrika kama vile Niger, Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Angola na Cote d’Ivoire. Lakini kutokana machafuko ya kisiasa na kuyumba kwa uchumi nchini Benin na vilevile kufariki kwa mpiga gitaa wao mashuhuri Bw Bernard Papillion Zoundegnon na Bw Yehousi Leopold ilifikirika kwamba kutokana na matatizo hayo ingekua ndio mwisho bendi hii.