T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

Beninese Afrobeat Pioneers

T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, also known as Tout Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou, is a band from Benin, West Africa, renowned for their contribution to the Afrobeat movement. The group was formed in the 1960s and gained popularity in the 1970s, becoming one of the continent's most prolific bands with a discography that includes hundreds of recordings. Their music is a rich fusion of traditional Beninese folk music, funk, soul, and Afrobeat, with influences from Congolese rumba and American jazz. The band's name reflects their musical versatility: "Tout Puissant" means "all-powerful," "Poly-Rythmo" signifies the complex polyrhythmic structures that characterize their sound.