Les Black Styl's 1972 - 1993:
A short history, based on an interview by Jean Celistin Edjangue with
founding member Nkotti Francois.
"I still do not understand the magic of the Black Styl songs. Even today I start crying when I hear one of there songs", tells Jean-Pierre Mongam a taxi-driver, who was a teenager in the late seventies. "It's the band of our generation, he continious, we grew up with their music".
It's around 1971 when Nkotti Francois leaves Souza and moves to Douala, where his sponsor just opened a cabaret/dancing in the Deido Quarter. Nkotti Francois has a good voice and starts to sing in the new place. In 1972 Toto Ekane Felix director of the Davum Bar, asks Nkotti if he wants to sing in his bar. He agrees ans as singer in the Davum Bar he meets the young gitarist Mouelle Jean, who introduces him to another young gitarist Toto Guillaume. After some time the bassplayer/singer of the Davum Bar house band is replaced by Emile Kangue.
From the beginning the new band decided to play only Makossa. Finally it is in the Bonaberi Quarter where they celebreate their first success. It is in this period around 1973, that Toto Guillaume writes a letter to Sono Disc in Paris, with the question if the company is interested in recording some of there songs. Sono Disc agrees and at the end of 1973 they record eight songs. The company choo ses the songs 'Francoise', written by Toto Guillaume and 'Ndutu' a song by Nkotti Francois as the A and B sides of the groups first 45 rpm single.
The single becomes a big hit in Cameroon and within a year, the group scores with a new producer again with 'O sambo'. The band goes on tour across the country and gives a very successfull show in the capital Yaounde. They they also play in the club 'Mount Cameroun'in Bali, where they meet the very talented drummer Yves Lobe. He joins the group and remains faithful to the end.
At the height of their success, Toto Guillaume gets the opportunity to study music in Paris. He took the opportunity, left the band and went to Paris. Shortly thereafter Alexandre Ebonick who lives in France offers the band the opportunity te record an album in Paris. On the 20th of september 1978 the band led by Nkotti Francois arrives in Paris, where they record the album 'Les Black Styls in Paris'in Studio Harrison. The album becomes a success and sells good ans is followed by a second one in 1979. But at the same time the first tensions become manifest. There is a problem about a contract between Emile Kangue and the rest of the group and also the personal problems of Monny Miller have a negative impact on the band. Both of them leave the band and the rest continious with Eyoum Paul ass the new bass player and Jackson Berry on guitar. But the momentum is gone and the 'second' Black Styl misses the spirit of the 'first' Black Styl's. The band survives but is not very successfull anymore.
In 1993-1994 the group has a brief revival when they record a new album with the female singer Nadia Ewande. Apart from Nkotti Francois, also the old members Kangue Emile, Lobe Yves, Mouelle Jean and Monny Miller participate in this recording. This record is the last sign of life from the Black Styls. Today the band stays alive in the hearts of those who grew up in the seventies.
♫ Blacks Styl (Cameroun):Cameroun Partout Vol.11
♫ Guardians of the heritage !!!
DISCOGRAPHY
ALBUMS
45 RPM SINGLES
