At the 2025 Nuits D'Afrique Festival in Montreal, Ivorian artist Tyrane Mondeny delivered an electrifying performance, captivating the audience with her powerful, blues-belter voice, a tight, muscular backing band, and an athletic stage presence. This memorable set led to a conversation with Afropop's Banning Eyre, offering insights into Mondeny's unique musical style and compelling personal journey.

Tyrane Mondeny describes her musical genre as "Soul Mandingo," a fusion she personally created. This style blends soul music and R&B, drawing from her background as a cabaret singer and performer, with the traditional Mande music from her home region in Koyaka, northern Ivory Coast. She shared her deep connection to blues music, viewing it as an embodiment of the history of slavery, expressing how every note tells a story of suffering and resilience. She believes that by mixing blues with her traditional African music, she can create something truly magical, exemplified by her song "Fistina," a Mandingo blues piece that deeply resonates with audiences.

Her journey into music began at a very young age as a dancer in traditional dance companies like Diolèmes d'Abidjan, where she engaged in dance, singing, and musical theater. A pivotal moment came when a mentor advised her to focus on singing, recognizing her exceptional vocal talent. This led her to train in cabarets and piano bars, performing covers of icons such as Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Anita Baker. Over the years, this experience fueled her desire to create her own original music, driven by an inherent "thirst for art" that has grown since childhood.

Mondeny also shed light on the contemporary music scene in Abidjan, noting its strong focus on mainstream urban music like Afrobeats and rap. For artists specializing in "world music" like herself, platforms for expression within the country are scarce, often necessitating participation in international festivals such as Nuits D'Afrique. While MASA (the African arts and entertainment market) provides some avenues, she emphasized the need for more local platforms to showcase the numerous talented Ivorian artists who lack international exposure.

She spoke highly of her band's artistic director and bassist, whom she considers like a brother and a vital creative partner. He is responsible for approximately 80% of her song arrangements, deeply understanding her artistic vision. Notably, he also serves as the bassist for the legendary Ivorian artist Meiway, highlighting his significant presence in the West African music scene. Tyrane expressed immense admiration for Meiway, who has been a lifelong inspiration, particularly for his extraordinary determination and ability to perform four-hour non-stop concerts to sold-out crowds, even later in his career.

Tyrane Mondeny's music is deeply personal and message-driven. She draws inspiration from her own challenging experiences, including being a victim of violence and an abused child who lived on the streets. Music, she revealed, saved her life. She sees her platform as an opportunity to convey messages of hope, urging young people to fight through adversity and to believe they can overcome challenges and become