Afrotronix turns ancient chadian rhythms into modern electronic music

Afrotronix, led by guitarist and producer Caleb Rimtobaye, is Chad’s pioneering electronic music export.

The group fuses Chadian initiation rhythms and vocal traditions with Afro House and electronic elements to create “Saharan Electro”, a pan-African sound that blends ancestral wisdom with modern innovation.

Raised by griots and shaped by a background marked by civil war, Rimtobaye uses music as a healing tool, connecting cultures and generations. With over 130 performances at global festivals, collaborations with artists such as Baaba Maal and Youssou N’dour, and 18 international awards, Afrotronix reinterprets sacred Chadian sounds for contemporary audiences.

Their newly released album, KÖD, features diverse pan-African collaborations and highlights rhythm as a fundamental expression of humanity.

The track “Beyond the Sky,” featuring Ghanaian artiste Stonebwoy, blends mbalax with reggae dub, offering an experimental take on dancehall and reggae infused with Afro-tech elements.

As the first Chadian electronic band, Afrotronix continues to push musical boundaries by introducing ancient Sahelian rhythms to a global audience, while Stonebwoy bridges Caribbean bass with African soul, representing the evolution of African reggae dancehall.

KÖD, described as a pan-African sonic ritual, uniquely merges ancestral codes with electronic futures. The album spans 27 tracks across two volumes and explores multiple genres, including Afro-tech dancehall with Stonebwoy, Afro-pop featuring Baaba Maal, and traditional rhythms such as the UNESCO-recognized Gourna and the Chadian Nganja initiation rhythms.



Watch the music video below: