Charlotte Mbango

Charlotte Mbango who passed away last year at the age of 49, was one of the most beloved singers of Cameroon.

Born in an artistic family (she's actually Eboa Lotin's granddaughter), Charlotte starts singing as soprano in a church choir at the age of nine . Four years later she starts her own gospel group. In 1979 she leaves Cameroun to continue her studies in Paris. In the early eighties Charlotte becomes part of the Parisian music scene and takes care of the backing vocals in numerous Afro-Antillean record sessions.

Her solo career kicks off in 1986 with the release of her first album, "Nostalgie". A very successful debut that paves the way for her second album "Konkai Makossa" in 1987. This record becomes a worldwide success rewarded by a Golden Record.

Charlotte continues in the same spirit with the albums "Maloko" (1991) and "Malea" (1996). Also in 1996 she sings a great duet "Sengato", with the late Tom Yom's and contributes with the song "Mumi" to the Syllart production "Sans Papiers Acte II". In 1998 she goes back to her musical "roots" with "Combines Religieuses", a CD with religious music.

In 2002, Charlotte starts the new millenium with the release of "Essuw'am" (Mon Combat), followed in 2003 by a "Best Of". In between she travelled all over the world to share her music on stage with her fans.

Her huge talent has been largely acknowledged and rewarded by numerous honours such as the Honorary TAMANI she got in Bamako, Mali in 2003.Her musical gift has allowed her to collaborate with established names as Manu Dibango and Paul Simon. In 2006 she released another religious record, the double-cd "Cantiques". It was her last one.

Clip: Konkai Makossa 1987

♫ 1986 Dikom Lam La Moto
♫ 1987 Bito

 DISCOGRAPHY
 



Michel Kingue 1933 - 2007

Born on 18 November 1933 in Bonakouamouang, Douala, Cameroon, Michel is passionate about music from his youth; He developed the foundations of his art with an assiduous practice of solfeggio, especially during the period during which he became a seminarian. His musical fibre is expressed and then confirmed in his favourite instrument, the clarinet.

When he met his wife in the mid-fifties, he founded his band "Les Cuban's boys" and is already a musician very popular with the public. After a stay for two years in Libreville (Gabon), Michel Kingue decides to try his luck in Europe, and in 1966 he crossed the Atlantic to settle in France. Clarinetist and saxophonist, his music appeals to the milieu, as evidenced by this interview carried out by the ORTF on his arrival in France, which presents him as a very promising artist; one of the first to evoke the "Makossa" among the Western populations. In 1973 Michel Kingue recorded "Ndok'a Munasu", a title very inspired by everyday life. Then it is the turn of "Loin la Penya" to heat the hearts, the waves and the dance-floors. Installed in Europe, Michel Kingue revolves mainly with the Orchestra of Pierre Saada, which allows him to harmoniously reconcile his private life with his life as an artist.

♫ Audio: 1973 Ndok'a Mun'asu 

♫ Audio: 1973 Longue La Penya

His discography presents a very extensive musical universe, ranging from Makossa, to salsa, through the chalouped rhythms of Rumba, and other rates of Tcha-Tcha. In the language of Douala, in French, in Pidgin, Michel Kingue sings and speaks directly to our senses, and sometimes challenges our conscience, as evidenced by the title "Ebangando". Michel Kingue has collaborated with renowned artists such as: Eitel Tobbo, Michel Eko, Manu Dibango, and many more. Michel Kingue died in Paris on 1 June 2007.

(concise) DISCOGRAPHY



Pierre de Moussy 1953 - 2018

♫  1984 Audio Ndolo L'Amour  

♫   1986 Audio: Deuxième bureau  

♫  1998 Audio: Zero Amour  

With 8 albums in 11 years on his credit, Pierre de Moussy was one of the most productive and successful Makossa singers of the 80s. Born in 1953 in Ndogkoko-Yabassi he started to make music with school concerts together with his lifetime friend Aladji Toure. They played together on Sundays in the so called 'Matinees des Jeunes'. When he grew older he started to play in Cabarets and bars until 1975 when he left for France. He returned several times to Douala on vacation and during those hollidays he continued to perform in the cabarets and bars of Douala. In those days he also recorded his first 45 rpm single entitled Ebol'a Radar for which Aladji Toure took care of the arrangements.

In 1981 his career really took of with the release of his first LP Ka Lonka on the Africa Oumba label. But he really hit the top of the charts in 1984 with the title track of the album Ndolo L'Amour. The main themes of his songs were, love, sorrow, euphoria, hope and social issues like gossiping such as in the song Radio Trottoir.

During the 90s he disappeared from radar until 1998 when he came back with his first CD Zero Amour on the JPS label. It turned out to be a one-off come back. After he settled in Switzerland he led an unremarkable existence in his new residence in Geneva. On January 26, 2018 he died in Geneva of the consequences of a traffic accident. He was finally laid to rest at the 'Bois des singes' cemetery in Douala on Saterday March 17th. He was made knight in the Order of Value posthumously by the Minister of Arts and Culture during a requim mass in Douala. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said Pierre de Moussy "was a musical icon and one of the flag bearers of Makossa in the 80s whose popularity went beyond  the national boundaries. Pierre de Moussy is dead but lives on through his works".

DISCOGRAPHY  OF  PIERRE DE MOUSSY

ALBUMS

45 RPM SINGLES

Bill Loko - Nen lambo 1980

BILL LOKO

Like a comet, Bill Loko appeared in Cameroonian music in the late 1970s and immediately disappeared in the mid-1980s. This genius was far ahead of its time. He operated a fundamental revolution in Makossa by introducing a rhythmic makossa by the piano. and synthesizers. Visionary sensitive to the musical influences of his time, he operated an original syncretism by introducing into the Makossa rhythms in the air such as Funk and disco. With the support of his accomplice Michot Dhin, he produced masterpieces in the space of a few years. In 1980, the title Nen Lambo appeared like a thunderclap and immediately had a resounding success.

♫ Audio: 1980 – Bill Loko – Nen Lambo

Bill Loko was spotted by Ekambi Brillant around the 1970s during a music competition in which he participated. Ekambi Brillant was won over by his guitar playing and the quality of his voice. Bill wins the competition and Ekambi Brillant comes behind the scenes shouting and pointing a finger in his direction: "Hey you! Stop singing and give me these songs, I want them". Although only 14 years old at the time, they became friends and Ekambi Brillant instantly became like a big brother, a mentor.

Very cooperative and benevolent, he encourages Bill to pursue a musical career. Ekambi even chooses a composition by Bill Loko which he records in his new album. This groin recognition makes young Bill Loko very proud.

Bill Loko's parents decide to send him to continue his studies in France. He arrives in France and meets the very talented instrumentalist Michot Dhin, a friend of Cameroon. the two friends start playing together in their spare time. From this collaboration will be born the Nen Lambo and Salsa Makossa tubes. They are accompanied in this adventure by Claude Vamur and Jean-Claude Naimro (future members of the Kassav) who are members of what should be called at the time "the national team of Makossa '. But Bill Loko did above all music for fun.

He did not do for glory; for this brilliant academic, music was a hobby. In 1980, when the title Nen Lambo appeared, success was there. Bill Loko is surprised by this unexpected success; when he moves through the streets of Paris he is assailed by crowds of people clamoring for autographs. He was not prepared for this life.

Feeling aggressed by celebrity and his constraints, he wishes to go somewhere where no one will be able to recognize him. He seized the opportunity of an exchange program offered by his university and moved to Australia. At the start it was supposed to be there for a year; he stayed there for several years with his wife. He eventually answered the call from Africa and returned to Africa before settling in France.

Bill Loko has produced timeless melodies among which we can cite: Salsa makossa, Dipita, Ndolo, Tika Ndolo, Muaye, malinga, Mina Ma Ndutu, Africa Wake Up.

With the albums Nen Lambo 1980, Dipita 1981, Afrika Wake Up 1982, he stamped his name in gold letters in the guest book of Cameroonian music. 

♫ Audio: 1981 – Bill Loko – Ndolo

♫ Audio: 1982 – Bill Loko – Africa Wake Up

It is therefore more than appropriate that 'Nen Lambo' received a place on the beautiful compilation 'Pop Makossa: The invasive dance beat of Cameroon 1976 - 1984' that Samy Ben Redjeb released in 2017 on his label Analog Africa.

AnalogAfrica - BandCamp: Pop Makossa the invasive dance beat of Cameroon 1976 -1984

 DISCOGRAPHY

Ngalle Jojo

After some musicians who came to fame in the eighties, it's time again for a singer, Ngalle Jojo who started his career in the seventies. Still a schoolboy, he was discovered as singer by Nelle Eyoum, the father of modern Makossa. In 1977 while studying in Paris, he recorded "Alliance" which made him a star of cameroonian music scene.

Two years later, he records "Madilla" his first album which was awarded the International Grand Prix for young singers. In 1980 "Petit Madam" took him up to the top of the charts. In 1981 he founded his own record company and produced records by Ebanda Manfred, Villavienne, Janette Ndiaye and other talented young people. During the first half of the eighties he released at least another three successful records, among which "Sona loko" in 1984.

Since the mid-eighties his musical output becomes irregular. His most recent CD's are: "Ewa Ewa" from 2000 and "The Best of Ngalle Jojo" from 2005. Ngalle Jojo now lives in Paris where he is active as born again evangelical. Despite his religious activities, he still finds time to act as makossa singer. In 2010 he gave some shows in the US together with Dina Bell.

 

♫ Audio: 1977 Alliance

♫ Audio: 1979 Bandolo na momba mabu

♫ Audio: 1983 Na Bwa Bongo
♫ Audio: 2000 Ewa Ewa

DISCOGRAPHY

Ndedi Dibango

Great Makossa singer/songwriter, who released a string of hits during the eighties with songs as - Epapala - Victory Makossa - Eye me - and It's all right. He had his last success with "Tchoki dance" in 1990. All I could find about him from the period after 1990 is that in 2002,  two "Best of" CD's were released with all his hits from the eighties. If you know more about Ndedi Dibango, please let me know.

♫ Audio: 1983 Epapala

♫ Audio: 1988 Eye me

DISCOGRAPHY

Mekongo President 1949 - 2014

Early 1980 were the two 'Sound d'Afrique' LP's on the Mango label, for many their first introduction to African pop music. Volume one opens with the song 'Me bowa ya' by Mekongo.

 

♫ Audio: 1981 Mebo Wa Ya

Now in 2019, Africa Seven Records ensures that Mekongo President has not been forgotten 5 years after his death in 2014.This year 'Africa Airways' Vol. 5 came out, with the song 'Angono Mana' from Mekondo's first album on Disque Esperance in 1979.

Mekongo (President) hails from  the area of Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon. At a young age he starts singing and playing piano, sax and guitar. In 1970 he decided to become a professional musician and moved to Douala. He worked with Ekambi Brillant and in 1971 he started his own band, 'Les Tulipes Noirs'. With this band he toured in Senegal, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Kenya. In 1975 he visited Canada and Europe. In 1977 he joined the French disco group 'Black Soul'.

♫ Audio: 1979 Black Soul – Hide it

In 1979 he returned to Cameroon and made his first solo record for Disque Esperance. In the eighties he became one of the modernizers of Bikutsi music. In the early 90s, he withdrew from the music scene. The last years of his life he led a reclusive life in his native village.

♫ Audio: 1982 Kare Ma Dis-le-moi

DISCOGRAPHY