makossa original

This non-commercial blog is dedicated to modern Makossa (and related styles) , the slick, urban dance music that developed in port town Douala, the commercial centre of Cameroon. Makossa is recognisable by up-beat, funky bass lines, often mixed above the solo guitar parts, and short unaccompanied verses answered by perky, mostly female chorus and snappy horns.

This blog broadly covers the 50 years between 1970 and 2020. The beginning of this period coincides with the moment when the world became acquainted with Makossa in 1972 through Manu Dibango’s international hit 'Soul Makossa'. The choice of 2020 as the end of this period coincides with the disappearance of classical sound carriers such as the CD and thus of the era of the 'music album' as we knew it through the vinyl record and the CD.