Asking around at Cotonou’s nightclubs and bars, to the sound of Ivorian coupé décalé, the same comment over and over again is said: “Poly-Rythmo? What an incredible band!” Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou was formed in 1969, anchoring their sound in the complex rhythms of the sacred Vodoun ceremonies of Benin, which have had far less exposure than the music of Cuban Santeria, Haitian Vodoun, or Brazilian Candomblé. They would put a Beninese spin on the hits of the day by Johnny Hallyday, Dalida or James Brown and created a repertoire which was as unique as it was explosive. "Drums, bells and horns are the fundamental instruments used during our traditional Vodoun rituals. We added guitars and organs - we modernised those ancient rhythms and combined them with Western genres that were in vogue at that time", explains Melome Clement, founder and bandleader.
Kundi la Le Tout Puissant Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou ni moja siri kubwa iliyojificha ndani ya Afrika Magharibi. Kundi hili Gwiji la Muziki limeshafanya maonyesho na magwiji wa muziki Afrika kama vile Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Manu Dibango na Orquesta Aragon. Mnamo mwaka 1969 ikitumia chanzo cha muziki wenye midundo ya kimuziki ya ngoma asilia ya sherehe za Vodoun kutoka nchini Benin. Ochestre Poly Rythmo iliundwa, kama vile haitoshi wana Poly Rythmo waliongezea vionjo muziki wao kwa kuuchanganya muziki wao na wakali wa miaka hiyo kama vile Johnny Hallyday,Dalida na James Brown. Mchanganyiko huo wakibunifu uliunda aina ya muziki ya kipekee ulioiwezesha bendi kupokea heshima kubwa katika anga yakimuziki na kukubalika sana Afrika Magharibi kote.