Zoundegnon Bernard

Nickname	Papillon
Full name	Zoundegnon Bernard
Country	Benin
Instruments	Lead Guitar (also known to play organ/piano)
Date of death	October 27, 1982

Zoundegnon Bernard, professionally known as "Papillon," was a foundational Beninese musician and the principal guitarist for the T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. In 1968, he became a charter member of the group, then known as Orchestre Poly-Disco, alongside Melome Clement and Bentho Gustave. His intricate guitar style and occasional organ performances were essential to the band’s signature sound, which fused traditional voodoo rhythms with Afrobeat, funk, and rumba. He is also credited with scouting major talent for the orchestra, most notably recruiting the influential soul singer Vincent Ahéhéhinnou in the late 1960s.  

During the 1970s, Papillon's role was so significant that several of the orchestra's major releases on the Albarika Store label, such as the 1977 album Cherie Coco / Mille Fois Merci, explicitly featured his name in the title. Throughout his career, he contributed to an expansive discography that included hundreds of recordings. Papillon died on October 27, 1982, an event that historically marked the end of the orchestra's most prolific era. His musical contributions remain central to the study of West African Afro-funk and have been featured in numerous global reissues by labels like Analog Africa.