Sessime
Sessime, a successful artist from Benin, shares how societal pressure made her temporarily unable to compose or write songs, and how she found a powerful way to come back.
Sessime is a successful and charismatic artist from Benin. She’s won or been nominated for several awards, and has a string of vibrant and danceable hits to her name. It’s no wonder she is sometimes compared to her superstar countrywoman Anglique Kidjo.
In this programme, Sessime shares how pressure from fans to marry and have children became so unbearable it sent her into a deep depression, and made her temporarily unable to compose or write songs. She came back with a direct challenge to her oppressors in the song Tatouage, which is a passionate plea for tolerance.
Image: Sessime (Credit: Barakell Beni)
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Sessime: What's in my bag?
Duration: 03:23
Broadcasts
- Sat 9 Jul 202201:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 9 Jul 202210:32GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Sat 9 Jul 202218:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 10 Jul 202210:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa only
- Mon 11 Jul 202200:32GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
