Amoikon Dihye Steven

Amoikon Dihye Steven is an Ivorian guitarist, pianist, bassist, producer, and composer currently based in Venice, Italy. He began his musical journey at the age of nine with piano lessons but experienced a long period of musical silence during his adolescence. At sixteen, he rediscovered his passion through the guitar and, by seventeen, had decided to dedicate his life to music.
Following this decision, Steven pursued formal studies at the Music Academy International in Nancy, one of the most prestigious music schools in France. There, he completed three programs—Musical Performance, Jazz, and Music Production—earning high praise from his mentors. He later graduated from the renowned Berklee College of Music in 2023, where he was one of the few, if not the only, Ivorian guitarists to be admitted.
Steven’s music is an Afro-cosmopolitan blend that fuses traditional African sounds with genres such as jazz, funk, R'n'B, and neo-soul. He is currently developing a new musical style that combines ancestral African rhythms with modern beat-making techniques. His sound reflects the voice of an African who has traveled—modern, fresh, and deeply rooted in tradition. He draws heavily from his academic training while honoring the legacy of the masters and griots who paved the way.
His musical influences are diverse and include legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ray Charles, George Benson, Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Oscar Peterson, John Coltrane, Toumani Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré, Ballaké Sissoko, and Mamadou Keita, among others.
Throughout his career, Steven has collaborated and performed with a wide range of artists, including Paco Sery, Jacob Desvarieux (Kassav), Youssou N'Dour, Mory Kanté, Andy Timmons, Mighty Mystic, Java Jukebox, Jesus Javier Molina, Yael Santé, Domi Degalle, and J-D Beck.
Looking ahead, Steven has ambitious goals both nationally and internationally. He aims to contribute meaningfully to the music scene in Côte d'Ivoire by launching several music-focused initiatives, while continuing to grow his international career—sharing his music and experiences with audiences around the world.