The new Ivorian series "Mélody, la victoire en chansons" (Melody, victory in song) broadcast on TV5Monde

TV5MONDE is launching the exclusive Ivorian series "MÉLODY, la Victoire en Chansons" on its Africa channel. This brand new 12-episode series, each episode lasting 52 minutes, was created and directed by Alain GUIKOU and produced by AKWABA FILMS in co-production with SOL-PRODD Consulting and TV5MONDE. The release will be accompanied by a 26-minute documentary tracing the genesis of the project.

"MELODY, la Victoire en Chansons" is the first musical comedy series celebrating the music of French-speaking Africa and paying tribute to cultural activists in Africa and elsewhere. Through a thrilling story, it offers the opportunity to discover some sixty songs, including 12 original African-inspired tracks performed by the actors in the series, who will also cover famous songs from the French-speaking repertoire, including many French songs.

Internationally renowned African artists have lent their talent and are among the cast, including
MEIWAY, Khadja NIN, Lokua KANZA, Jacob DESVARIEUX, David TAYORAULT, Serge BEYNAUD, Dobet GNAHORE, NASH, Pat SACKO, Eric PATRON, the famous choreographer Georges MOMBOYE, and Hollywood actor Jimmy JEAN-LOUIS. They will perform their own songs and play their own roles to enhance the story of this original series. The series evolves to a variety of rhythms and atmospheres ranging from Zouglou to Coupé Décalé, Reggae, Classical, Afro Trap, Afro Beat, Rumba and French Pop Music to appeal to a wide audience.

The title of the series was inspired by the film "La Victoire en Chantant" (Victory Through Song), a French-German-Ivorian film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, released in 1976. The title is borrowed from the Chant du départ (Song of Departure), sung by the troupe of black soldiers. It won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 49th Academy Awards in 1977, which prompted a re-release in France under the title "Noirs et Blancs en Couleur" (Blacks and Whites in Color). The producers pay tribute to this feature film made in Ivory Coast and have received Jean-Jacques Annaud's blessing for MELODY.

Synopsis:

Gina BIDI, an Ivorian woman living in France, inherits the prestigious performing arts school "Mélody" in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, upon her father's death. Her uncle Bernard suggests selling the school and the land to Fadoul HUSSEN, a ruthless businessman who plans to build a shopping mall on the site. Gina is opposed to this. Wanting to honor her father's memory, she wishes to continue his work and develop the school to enable students to realize their artistic dreams. With the complicity of Uncle Bernard, Fadoul will do everything in his power to recover the property rights to the land. Gina, meanwhile, befriends a brilliant young lawyer, Ethan, who helps her in her fight and with whom she eventually falls in love.

Technical details

Genre: musical comedy
Duration: 12x52min
Year of production: 2020
Country: Ivory Coast
Creator and director: Alain GUIKOU Screenwriters: Casimir GUELADE and Alain GUIKOU Choreographer: George MOMBOYE

Original music composers: DGS, DJ Ben, Holy Tedj, David Tayorault / Arrangements: David Tayorault
Producer: Alain GUIKOU for AKWABA FILMS
Co-producers: Alfred ZEBI for SOL-PRODD Consulting / TV5MONDE

Main actors: Polha Andréa GOURE, Hicham MEROUEH, Serge GRAH, Franck VLEHI, Landry GNAMBA, Nancy GOULIAN, Gabriel ZAHON, Danielle POTEY, Jimmy KOY

Broadcast times

TV5MONDE AFRICA: Starting Sunday, June 6 at 9:00 p.m., Abidjan and Dakar time TV5MONDE France Belgium Switzerland: Starting Saturday, June 19 at around 11:30 p.m., Paris time. TV5MONDE EUROPE: Starting Wednesday, June 16 at 11:20 p.m., Berlin time
TV5MONDE MAGHREB/ORIENT: Starting Monday, June 7 at 12:00 a.m. Beirut time TV5MONDE ASIA: Starting Monday, June 14 at 12:00 a.m. Bangkok time

TV5MONDE PACIFIC: Starting Tuesday, June 8 at 11:00 p.m. Tokyo time
TV5MONDE UNITED STATES: Starting Thursday, June 10 at 10:30 p.m. Los Angeles time TV5MONDE LATIN AMERICA: Starting Thursday, June 3 at 3:00 p.m. Buenos Aires time

Watch (again) for free on the TV5MONDE Afrique app and on the global French-language platform TV5MONDEplus.

press release