Ivory Coast as well as the African continent are mourning the disappearance of Valéry Vitale, one of the emblematic figures of the Espoir 2000 group.
The artist died on Saturday October 12, 2024 in Paris, after battling leukemia for several years, according to several corroborating sources. His disappearance represents an immense loss for the Ivorian artistic world, in particular for his lifelong accomplice, Pat Sacko. Together, they announced the release of a new album scheduled for November 9, 2024, and a major concert with zouglou legends on November 2, 2024 at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan-Port Bouët.
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The group Espoir 2000, founded in 1997, has deeply marked Ivorian and African musical history with essential titles, which resonated in clubs and discotheques across the continent. Initially composed of three members: Pat Sacko, Shura and Valéry, the group was distinguished by its satirical texts, denouncing social realities, particularly with regard to women. However, at the beginning of the 2000s, Shura decided to leave the music scene to settle in France, leaving Valéry and Pat Sacko to continue the adventure as a duo.
In 2017, the duo’s projects were abruptly interrupted when Valéry fell seriously ill. He then left for France to receive treatment, which delayed the release of their album. In 2024, after finalizing the album entitled “Tableau”, Valéry died just a few days before its release, leaving his partner Pat Sacko to continue alone.
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