"I want to uphold the values ​​of our professions": farmer-singer Péka releases his new album in tribute to a colleague who died in the Alpes-Maritimes

Since his early childhood, spent on the plateaus and hills of Kpalimé, Togo, Pierre Koffi Alanda, alias Péka, has been singing to break his solitude. Handicapped by a malformation of the palate and difficulty speaking, the now forty-something has come a long way since then.

Self-proclaimed peasant-singer, Péka released his second music album at the end of this summer: " Viva Pétou" - which can be translated as "long live the peasants" , inspired by his native country but also by Nice.

He hopes to see his career as an artist take off, as a committed organic farmer based in Briançonnet, who has been crowned, since 2022, regional president (Paca) of the National Federation of Organic Farming Groups.

In addition to the fruit of his passion for singing, whether French variety – from Francis Cabrel to Céline Dion, including his idol Georges Moustaki – or Togolese music, this new opus, like the first, is for Pierre Koffi Alanda a true act of militancy, in addition to a tribute to Arnaud Valentin, a farmer friend who died in 2019 in Contes – with the title " Viva Pétou" .

"Because being a farmer isn't just a job working on the land. Farmers ultimately maintain a land, a landscape. They sometimes provide a livelihood for an entire village. Through these texts, I want to promote the values ​​of our professions, defend them. And also challenge our leaders. But it's also a nod to my friend, who left us a few years ago."

"I hope it will be heard beyond my village."

This album, which has fifteen tracks including three in Ewe, one of the many languages ​​spoken in Togo – French remains the official language – is something Péka hopes will be a success.

To achieve this, he put all his heart and commitment into it, thanks to his collaboration with Cyril Cianciolo, musician in charge of the arrangements.

"I hope it will be heard beyond my village. I would like it to allow me to meet audiences throughout France, to exchange ideas and raise awareness. We are all responsible for our territories. I am also appealing to producers, local authorities, festival organizers... I want to give farmers a voice in song."

In Grasse, Jérôme Viaud, the mayor, heard it. He will be in concert on October 11th at the Jardin des Plantes, for the official release of the album – already available on all music platforms as well as at Le Marchand bio in Grasse, 57 bd Marcel-Pagnol, and at the Châteauneuf farmers' market, 1 route du Village.