Ivory Coast used to be described as an African success story. The country's relative stability and prosperity were in large measure the work of former president Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

When he died in 1993, the country changed.

And not just politically -- culturally too.

Musicians for example used to flock to the main city of Abidjan to record. That's slowed down after the country's recent civil war.

Today we're going to introduce you to a young singer who lived through the rise and fall of the Ivory Coast success story.

Her name is Dobet Gnahore. Dobet Gnahore lives in France. Her recently released CD is called "Na Afriki." On a recent tour of the US, she got to show off her fiery stage presence.

It was also on that tour that Dobet Gnahore came by the new Fraser performance studio here at WGBH to chat with me and play with her band.