Ismaël Isaac reflects on the seven years he spent on the streets
As he approaches his 40th career anniversary, Ismaël Isaac reflects on a difficult period in his youth, claiming to have spent seven years on the streets.
Ismaël Isaac has reopened a challenging chapter of his life as he approaches the celebration of his 40-year career. The Ivorian reggae artist claims to have spent seven years living on the streets, a period he discussed this week while preparing for his anniversary concert on November 7, 2026, at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan.
“I spent 7 years on the streets,” he stated during a media session surrounding the concert announcement, according to remarks reported on Friday, September 18, by Afriksoir. This revelation sheds light on a youth marked by hardship before he established himself among the prominent voices of Ivorian reggae.
Born in Abidjan and associated with Treichville from the start, Ismaël Isaac has built his artistic trajectory since the 1980s. Profiles dedicated to his career recall that he was already singing in the neighborhood before being discovered by keyboardist Georges Kouakou and later showcased to a national audience through the television program “Première Chance.”
His relationship with the streets has also influenced his music. The artist includes in his repertoire “Enfant de la rue,” a song often linked to the social realities he claims to have faced. Throughout his albums, from “Rahman” to “Taxi Jump,” “Treich Feeling,” “Black System,” and then “Je reste,” he has consistently drawn from these personal experiences in his lyrics.
This statement comes as the singer prepares for a new phase in his career. The Parc des Expositions in Abidjan is set to host a concert on November 7 dedicated to his four decades of music. Organizers are planning a performance lasting over two hours, while a maxi-single featuring two tracks and a box set showcasing his repertoire have also been announced in connection with this celebration.
For the event on November 7, organizers have announced ticket prices of 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and 100,000 FCFA. A new press conference is expected to clarify the final details of the program ahead of the concert.
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