Yannick Koffi is one of Australia’s most exciting emerging musical talents. This 12 year old multi-instrumentalist of Afro-Australian heritage has a unique sense and understanding of music that is a rare pleasure to witness..

In his short career he has attracted a lot of media attention featuring in several newspapers and magazines, including The Sydney Morning Herald, London Metro, and The LIFE magazine in the Ivory Coast. He regularly performs professionally at Australia’s most famous venues and festivals.

In 2008 after securing an endorsement with FENDER he was invited to join the outstanding “Super Kids” band in Japan as part of a TV show called “Unbelievable!”. He also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show.

After winning a scholarship he now attends a prestigious arts college called The McDonald College.

His visit to the Ivory Coast in December 2009 presented the opportunity to perform a series of concerts in Abidjan where his musical talent and maturity struck many local and international musicians and spectators. During these concerts he performed alongside famous musicians including Alpha Blondy, Ismael Isaac, Kadjeem, Desire Gadeau, and Caribbean superstar Jacob Desvarieux from Kassav’.

In 2010, Yannick was invited to the United States to share the stage with legendary reggae act, “Third World”, at the Home Run Music Festival in Florida. While performing in Florida, Yannick’s talent was recognized by CBS News and broadcast on their network.

In May 2011, Yannick returned to the Ivory Coast in an official capacity to perform for the investiture of the new Ivorian President Alasane Ouattara

Born in Sydney in 1999, his musical talent was almost immediately obvious. At 10 months old, to the astonishment of his Mum and Dad, he spat out his dummy and flawlessly sang the melody to an Ivory Coast classic from his car seat. As he learned to walk and talk, his home opened up a world of musical possibilities; banging on pots and pans, strumming rhythms on his plastic guitar and singing along to the many musical influences that floated through his daily life. At two, he memorised Michael Jackson 30th anniversary concert and delighted in performing it in front of the TV. Never shy of the limelight, around this time he took his toy guitar and climbed onto the stage at a Café Carnivale concert and started performing beside his Dad.

Approaching music with strong intuition and innate feeling, it seems Yannick is able to master an instrument as quickly as he lays his hands on it. His 5th birthday present was a jazz drum kit, but within 6 months he was also playing the keyboard and as soon as he was strong enough to hold it, the bass guitar.

It wasn’t long after that Yannick made his professional debut. In 2006, aged 7 he performed on the keyboard with his older brother Jean- Eric and the African Diaspora, Sydney’s premier West African group, lead by his father Gervais Koffi. Since then, Yannick has become an integral member of the group, playing both keyboard and bass at many gigs and events in Sydney including New Year’s Eve 2007 at Darling Harbour, Bastille Day celebrations at Paddington Town Hall and Dockside, Cafe Carnivale and Musica Viva as well as festivals including the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra. 

Whilst he appears to be an unassuming schoolboy, playing with his friends, underneath lurks a musical powerhouse and entertainer who could make any professional musician tremble in their boots. Yannick’s videos have been watched by thousands of people around the globe on Youtube. His website and his facebook page, “Yannick KOFFI: The Prodigy”, continue to have an increasing number of daily visits with very enthusiastic comments from viewers.