If today it is Ninho, Orelsan or PNL who illustrates rap in France, Akhenaton is one of two who participated in its democratization in France. At 53, the former member of the IAM group confides in a rare interview given to Manu Katché for his show “La Face Katché”. In addition to looking back on his career in the world of music, Akhenaton, whose real name is Philippe Fragione, talks about his private and family life.
Born in Marseilles into an Italian family, Philippe Fragione was 25 when he converted to Islam, out of love for his wife Aïcha. “My wife is black, Arab and Muslim, it’s a kind of all star game,” he says. The rapper explains that he grew up with this religion, even before his marriage: “It’s a combination of the books I read, but also linked to my entourage. In the mid-80s, when all your friends were doing Ramadan, out of solidarity, you can’t see yourself coming back with your sandwich and eating it. So you were fasting out of respect, out of solidarity. And in the evening, we told each other only good stories. No politics, but the stories of the prophet. It smelled travel… I came to religion on the bright side of things: that of sharing.”
The 53-year-old artist then explains that this conversation led to unexpected discrimination: “In my generation, we have not suffered the racism that blacks and Arabs suffer in France. I cannot consider myself a victim, because discrimination , I lived it more as an adult by marrying my wife, looking for an apartment, converting to Islam. When you are newly married and you go to an apartment, and the notice of the owner specifies “No dog , no black, no Arabic”… It’s hot. And there, you see your wife, your children, and you say to yourself: it’s not possible, we’re still there.”
If he does not experience racism, his children are unfortunately confronted with it on a daily basis: “I saw the pain in the eyes of my son, who said to me: “Dad, I am being checked three times a day”. I didn’t see him well, especially in his dealings with the police and the forces of order. He found himself several times in police custody for no reason. I didn’t suffer what he suffered. But you want to intervene, because it’s your child.” he explains. “With my wife and my children, we always talked about it. Because if you don’t defuse, you risk having an answer that is commensurate with what they have suffered, and that makes little ones very angry , which can become violent.” he adds.
“My children see themselves as children of the world. They don’t calculate all that, except when we come to remind them with checks. I’m sad for my country, but this is where they had the worst experiences. Today “Today, my three sons feel this stigma. They want to go and live abroad.” he concluded saddened.
Aliénor de la Fontaine