Dodo’s adventurous journey led him to his roots and the new
Published: Thursday, Dec 28th 2023, 13:10
Zurück zu Live Feed
The Swiss musician Dodo traveled from Switzerland through parts of Africa in a studio container. The result is a documentary film and an album. Both are called "Yopougon - Way Back Home". The "Hippie Bus" singer refers to his roots in Africa.
Dominik Jud, now 46 and known as Dodo, was born in the Yopougon district of Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire before moving to Wallisellen in Zurich when he was six years old. 40 years later, Dodo visited Abidjan again. "It was a journey to my roots," says the musician in an interview with the Keystone-SDA news agency. On the opening song, Dodo sings: "A part of me is still there".
Five years ago, the idea of converting a container into a studio was born. Dodo's old studio was demolished in 2018. The reggae musician looked out of the window and saw a container. "I thought to myself: if they're going to raze my studio to the ground, then I'll travel around the world with my new studio," says Dodo.
This gave rise to the idea of converting a container into a studio. At that moment, filmmaker friend Alexis Amitirigala was present. He had insisted on being allowed to make the documentary about the trip. But first of all, the pandemic threw a spanner in the works. Everything was delayed.
Cumbersome journey
Container and Dodo were able to travel from Basel to Rotterdam on the ship, but there was no passenger space for the next leg of the journey. There was still fear of coronavirus, and the Russian war of aggression was already raging in Ukraine. So Dodo flew to South Africa and then continued on by truck and container. Via Ghana to the Ivory Coast.
The artist was on the road for a total of six months. A lot was planned, but not everything worked out. Be it the journey entirely by ship or planned collaborations with guest musicians. "Some things were depressing, but that's the way - you have to go with the flow". He even made a kind of master plan for his happiness. "You have to make life happen for yourself," says Dodo. So he stuck with the project despite the hurdles. The song "Tell Money" was written at a moment when money was running out.
While still in Germany, Dodo met the German musician Horst Wegener. On location, for example in a township in South Africa, the artist made contact with local musicians. These included Wiyaala and Jimmy James. The Zurich native gave a concert with Wiyaala in Ghana. The two harmonized and promptly recorded three songs the next day - in the container studio. All nine songs were created in collaboration with other musicians.
Fewer inhibitions
Contact with other creative artists forced him to "leave his comfort zone", says Dodo. The Zurich native recorded songs in English and High German for the first time. He used to have inhibitions. "I could already hear the critics laughing when I tried my hand at English songs," says Dodo. On his journey, he realized that it doesn't really matter. "Everyone I met on the road has an accent and they stand by it, and that's what I want too," says the Zurich native.
Musically, there are further innovations on the album "Yopougon - Way Back Home". Dodo and his guests devote themselves to Afrotrap or Amapian, a musical style from the South African townships. No longer just reggae. Trying things out is fundamental to an adventure, says the musician: "Otherwise it would just be a package tour." This attitude has given him a new freedom.
Family trip to the homeland
Dodo has fulfilled a dream with this trip. His mother accompanied him for a short distance. Together they went to their old home in Yopougon. Dodo and his family had not been back since his father's death. The "snow that had covered the memories had melted away", as Dodo says. It wasn't just easy.
In the course of this journey, Dodo 2.0 was created, the Dodo after "Hippie Bus". "An album release has never felt so easy," says the musician. Which is probably also due to the positive reception so far. The single "Tell Money" has made it onto important Ghanaian and Nigerian playlists.
The film "Yopougon - Way Back Home" will be shown in selected Swiss-German cinemas from January 4, 2024. The album "Yopougon - Way Back Home" will be released on January 5.
©Keystone/SDA
German 
English 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic