Clément Mélomé

Country	Benin
Instruments	Saxophonist, Accordionist and Guitarist

Clément Mélomé (1945–2012) was the visionary saxophonist and bandleader who founded the Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou in 1968, transforming Beninese music into a global powerhouse. A master of fusion, he skillfully wove complex traditional Vodoun rhythms into a high-energy mix of Afrobeat, funk, and soul, leading the group through one of the most prolific recording streaks in West African history with over 500 tracks. Mélomé remained the anchor of the ensemble for over four decades, steering them from the local nightclubs of Cotonou to international festival stages during a late-career revival that introduced their "poly-rhythmic" sound to a new generation of listeners before his passing in 2012.