Sah Bi, Jess: Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas (CD)

Jess Sah Bi & Peter One's Our Garden Needs Its Flowers was a revelation to many folks outside West Africa when it was reissued worldwide a few years ago. However, the Country-Americana duo from Ivory Coast has been massive since they emerged in the mid-80s, playing stadiums and making a beloved home in peoples’ ears across the region for decades. The enormous response from listeners and press around the globe speaks for itself.

Now we are making Jess Sah Bi’s beautiful first solo album widely available for the first time. Recorded in South Carolina and released in Ivory Coast in 1991 only on cassette, Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas [Jesus Christ Never Gives Up] comes out in restored and remastered audio on digital and tape formats. It is the first in ATFA’s new African Devotional Music series.

Jess Sah Bi narrowly survived a brush with death and promised himself and God that he would record an album in praise. While on an exchange visit to South Carolina he arranged to record some new songs and later released the album in Ivory Coast. At the time, locally-produced gospel music wasn’t big yet — most of the well-known West African gospel artists hailed from Ghana and Nigeria. But with the success of Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas, Jess Sah Bi helped kick off a homegrown Ivorian gospel music movement that today thrives in many parts of the country and beyond.

1. Gorée Island
2. He Wants to Walk With You
3. Y Vou Balé Va
4. Séhé Voulé
5. Fortify Yourself
6. He Wants to Walk With You (Remix)
7. Rented