Nelle Eyoum Emmanuel 1934 - 1993

  Nelle Eyoum Emmanuel is one of the pioneers of modern Cameroonian music. He is considered the creator of Makossa alongside Ebanda Manfred and Epee Mbende Richard.  Born on 5 October 1934 in Douala (Bonatene - Deido), Nelle Eyoum started playing music in 1950. Self-taught on the guitar, he played and spread the songs of the Assiko repertoire of his region. He also has a real passion for the music of Zaire. He is particularly fond of the music of Wendo Kolosoy, one of the stars of Zairoise music at that time. Between 1950 and 1952, Nelle Eyoum met his idol Wendo Kolosoy and joined the latter's band. He explored the former Belgian Congo and played guitar with his idol. 

Wendo Kolosoy

♫ Video: Wendo Kolosoy – Marie Louise: 3:30

In 1953 Nelle Eyoum recorded his first songs in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) in one of the biggest and most famous recording studios in the region (a 78 rpm record for the famous Ngoma label in Leopoldville. That same year, for family reasons, Nelle Eyoum returned to Cameroon to his native Douala. He made his first recordings on Radio Douala in 1958 with Mouelle Guillaume. The following year, he joined Ebanda Manfred in the Rythmic Band and together they made a series of recordings for Radio Douala between 1953 and 1963, including the song Kembe federal. The most famous recording was Diabala Basile (Basile's Wedding), recorded in 1959 and widely regarded as the first Makossa recording.  Indeed, it is this title which is at the origin of the word 'Makossa'. The word 'Kossa!', which was used to call for dancing, became the central element of this song and ended up designating a musical rhythm and by extension a dance.

♫ Audio: Nelle Eyoum et Los Calvinos – Kembe federal: 3:45

Nelle Eyoum founded and was a member of several groups, the most important of which were Los Calvinos and Le Negro Styl. He was also a member of the famous group Uvocot Jazz in the 1950s, which included: Epee Mbende Richard, known as Epee d'or, Moundo Mongele Isaac, Ebanda Manfred, Priso Makembe, Mangamba Emmanuel, Esaaka. Nelle Eyoum took over the leadership of Los Calvinos after the death of Calvin Nseke, the group's founder. He left Los Calvinos to form Negro Styl with Helle Gauthi, Moukoko, Tintin, Eke among others. Every weekend in the mid-1960s, fans and music lovers flocked to the Flambeau bar where, with the group Los Calvinos, Nelle Eyoum kept the music lovers dancing until the end of the night.

♫ Audio: Nelle Eyoum Emmanuel & Los Calvinos – Na kwedi dimune: 3:50

♫ Audio: Nelle Eyoum Emmanuel & l’Orchestre Negro Styl – Nyue ye bobe: 3:25

In addition to her numerous recordings on Radio Douala, Nelle Eyoum has produced several singles and two LPs. In 1973 he participated in the first national music festival of Cameroon. He has been a mentor to many artists and has inspired many Cameroonian artists with his style, including Jojo Ngalle, Ele Gustave Nkotti, Francois Misse Ngoh, Toto Guillaume and Nkotti Francois. In 1981 he released the LP Ikwale on the ERI label from drummer/producer Ebeny Donald Wesley. 

♫ Audio: Tonton Nelle Eyoum – Ikwale: 6:00

Nelle died on 10 September 1993 as a result of injuries sustained in a fatal traffic accident. Shortly after his unexpected death, Aladji Toure released a tribute album entitled l'Age-d'Or: Hommage a Nelle Eyoum. For this album, Toure brought together a selection of Cameroonian artists, including Kotto Bass, Ben Decca, Nkotti Francois and Henry Njoh.

♫ Audio: Ben Decca, Nkotti Francois, Henri Njoh, Kotto Bass – Festival (a/c/ Nelle Euoym): 4:57

RESOURCES

Link: Voice of America: Musical memories from Cameroon

Arol Ketchiemen, Les Icônes de la musique Camerounaise Tome 1, p. 198,199; Les Editions du Muntu 2017

DISCOGRAPHY (incomplete)