Somassou Nestor

Somassou Nestor is a celebrated Beninese percussionist, best known as the conga player for the legendary Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. He Nestor is a foundational figure in Beninese music, best known as the skilled conguero for the legendary Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. As a cornerstone of the band's percussion section during its 1970s heyday, Nestor played a crucial role in weaving together complex Vodun rhythms with Afrobeat, funk, and Latin influences to create the group's signature hypnotic groove. His rhythmic precision is captured on hundreds of recordings, including the iconic Special Festac 77, and his legacy continues to be celebrated globally through the extensive reissues of Beninese "golden age" music, marking him as a master of West African percussion.