In 1984, the former schoolteacher released his first album and the success of Ancien Combattant, an anti-militarist track, catapulted Zao onto the international scene. With his inimitable verve, the Congolese denounced the disasters of war. Everyone is dead (cadavéré)! However, for the record, this song was originally composed in 1969 by Idrissa Soumaoro, a Malian composer and musician, under the title « Petit n’imprudent ». Quickly pirated, the song was covered several times, until Zao discovered it and made his own adaptation.
Ancien Combattant – Zao, 1984
