Espoir 2000

Formed in the late 1990s in Koumassi, on the outskirts of Abidjan, Espoir 2000 is an Ivorian duo led by Pat Sacko, singer and lyricist, and Valéry. The group became a benchmark of zouglou, the genre born on Ivorian university campuses, festive and danceable yet also a voice for youth realities and the country's political issues. Their second album, "Série C," whose title track became a hit, sold over 200,000 copies and cemented Espoir 2000's place in the Ivorian music scene. In 2001, the album "Quatrième Mandat" took them on tour across Europe and Africa. Pioneers of zouglou, Espoir 2000 continues to energize stages with its infectious energy and lyrics rooted in everyday life.