Serge Beynaud

Guy Serge Beynaud Gnolou was born in Yopougon, Abidjan, on 19 September 1987. He began composing in childhood and entered professional studio work as an arranger at nineteen, developing technical experience with zouglou and coupé-décalé artists including Douk Saga.

In 2009, "Kouma lébé" brought Beynaud wider attention and led to his association with David Monsoh's Obouo Music. He emerged as part of a later wave of coupé-décalé—the genre had developed through Ivorian and Parisian networks in the early 2000s—and was recognized as an artist who made its sound more melodic without abandoning its dance-centered social energy.

His debut album *Seul Dieu* appeared in 2012, followed by *Talehi* in 2014. The latter included "Côté sensible" with Colonel Reyel. "Fouinta Fouinte," released in 2015, became a major success that cemented his place in the form.

Beynaud's significance to dance lies in how he pairs sharply designed refrains with repeatable movement hooks, tightly coordinated ensembles, and a polished dandy persona. His records and visual releases helped give coupé-décalé a new impulse through rhythmic showmanship and meticulous arrangement.

In 2016 he received a BET Awards nomination in the Best International Act: Africa category, following dance-forward singles and a European tour that underscored his position beyond Côte d'Ivoire. He continued releasing material, including the album *Accelerate* in 2017, while his choreography-oriented videos circulated through African dance classes and online tutorials.

In December 2025 Beynaud sold out two concerts at Abidjan's Parc des Expositions d'Abidjan; the venue honored him in April 2026 for the success of those performances.