Amen Viana

Guitar, Vocals  |  Togo

Hailing from Lome, Togo, the ultra-versatile guitarist and vocalist Amen Viana brings a unique command of and sound combining reggae, funk, Afrobeat, pop, rock, and blues. Nurtured by his older brother, Jeannot, whose unexpected death inspired Amen to instensify his passion and seek inspiration of eclectic international musicians such as Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Fela Kuti, and Sting — he began playing professionally in his teens.

After establishing himself with Togolese groups such as Natty Dread and the Maleeka trio, Amen rose to the international arena, where he has performed and/or collaborated with renowned groups include the Black Eyed Peas, Vieux Farka Toure, Miriam Makeba, Cheick Seck, and many more. As a soloist and bandleader, Amen has released three albums: Gamessou, a sonic alliance of rock and traditional Togelese music; the “Afro-rock’n’funk” Zoka Fonktion; and the solo acoustic Pearls & Gold. His current project, Electric Togoland, captures the heart of Togolese music across generations and is scheduled for release in 2017.