Alliance Francaise and the French Embassy, as well as member countries of La Francophonie represented in Accra, will on Saturday March 24 present the Congolese musician, Zao, in a mega concert at the premises of Alliance Francaise in Accra.

Zao is an incredible African musician. His song, Ancien Comabattant (War Veteran) is one of the best African songs ever written.

With the electronic rhythm box engaged, the song, which he has re-arranged, used to be a classical one.

Many fans who hear this song often assume military-like postures as they sing along.

It refers, in a humorous way, to the African soldiers who killed other soldiers their white bosses ordered them to kill.

For most of his fans, this new version has more rhythms. It has more appeal because it is more danceable than the original version. It is however unfortunate that it omits a large part of the original song.

Both committed and burlesque, Zao stands out in Africa, and especially the musical landscape of The Congo.

He is generally more concentrated on Soukouss but his style is superb. His songs have highly sensitive themes inlcuding taboos in Africa, like witchcraft. He manages to clothe them in a kind of humorous, second-degree comedy.

The resulting humour is without doubt, the mainspring of his success.

Zao tours Africa a great deal, often disguising himself as he delights the crowds.

His career is centred mainly in Africa and he rarely appears in Europe. In 1997, he toured the French Cultural Centres in Benin and Burkina Faso.

He received the Prix de la Découverte from Radio France Internationale in 1982, more particularly for his song "Sorcier Ensorcelé". On the crest of his popularity, Zao began producing his own records and devoted himself more especially to the traditional music of his country.

The concert forms part of activities marking the 2007 edition of La Francophonie, which also includes film shows, art exhibitions and other perfomances.