Moni Bile



In "The Da Capo Guide to Contemporary African Music" published in 1988, Ronnie Graham writes the following words about Moni Bile: (...) Moni Bile is today the most popular Makossa singer in both Cameroon and Paris. With five LP's released to date (in 1986 MO), he has established a reputation for sophisticated production, incessant dance rhythms and sweet vocals. He makes use of only the very best session men and has replaced Sam Fan Thomas as the dance ploor sound (...)

A few years later in 1991, Graeme Ewens continues in his book "Africa O-Ye, a celebration of African music" (...) During the Eighties Paris became the recording capital of Africa, with a roster of artists lining up to release albums. Some of the biggest hits were scored by Moni Bile. Bile delivers his Douala lyrics in a mellow growl, and he almost sings without pause, the voice blending with the music rather then standing out in front. During the Eighties his records outsold those of the other new-look Makossa artists. Since taking up music professionally in 1981 at the age of 24, Moni Bile has been on the forefront of hi-tech Makossa. His album Bijou was the most influential, leading to the first populair boom (of new-wave Makossa, MO) and opening the way for Sam Fan Thomas, Elvis kemayo, Lapiro de Mbanga, Guy Lobe and others (...)

These quotes say enough about the role that Moni Bile played in the booming  Makossa scene of the Eighties. And unlike many other Makossa singers from this decade he has managed to remain in the forefront in the next decades. Since 1990 he has released at least seven new CD's. Every few years he also releases compilations of his older work. This way he keeps his music always available for his fans all over the world.

More information is available on Moni Bile's website https://www.monibile.com/
His website also contains his discography, several facts about his career pictures and some articles.

To bring you in the mood, two personal Moni Bile favorites from 1988, the year that I visited Cameroon for the first time!

♫ Video: 1988 Makossa Parade

♫ Video: 1988 Issango

Marcel Tjahe



Marcel Tjahe was born on March 23, 1952 in Yabassi, a small town northeast of Douala. Around 1980 he moves to Paris where he records his first album in 1982. This LP entitled Roue de secours is followed by Misso ma Juliette in 1983, Mon mari n'est pas serieux in 1984, Afric ambiance in 1986 and finally Free Mandela in 1987. Then it becomes silent around Marcel Tjahe. After 1987 he released only one album Makossa on the rocks in 1996.

♫ Audio: 1983 Misso Ma Juliette 

 

♫ Audio: 1996 Munyengue

DISCOGRAPHY

 

Manfred Ebanda 1935 - 2003

Along with Mouelle Guillaume, Epee Mbende and Nelle Eyoum, Manfred Ebanda is one of the pioneers of Makossa. He is best known for Amio, a song he wrote at the age of 24 years, about his love for Amie Brigitte Essomba.

Ebanda Manfred does nothing with the song after the recording itself and even fails to record its rights. It is therefore Francis Bebey who, for the first time, is successful with it a year later after he recorded it for his new album. Afterwards Amio is included in their repertoire by many artists, culminating in the interpretation by Bebe Manga, who won a "Maracas d'Or" in 1980. From that moment there is no stopping. It starts with an interpretation by the West Indian Astasia Andre under the title "Alimentation". This is followed by the French star Henri Salvador in 1982. In Africa itself it is Manu Dibango, Monique Seka, Papa Wemba and Nyanka Bell who cover the song.


The song also continues to inspire the younger generations. In 1999 the first rap version followed by Bisso Na Bisso and in 2005 African Connection was successful with a Coupé-Decalé version of the song. 50 years have passed since Ebanda Manfred Amio wrote and the song has more than proved that it belongs in the category of global classics such as Malaika and Juantanamera.

For Manfred Ebanda itself, it all didn't deliver that much. During his lifetime, he estimated it to be around $ 20,000, stating that he had received absolutely nothing from the radio and TV rights.

♫ Audio: 1980 Bébé Manga - Amio

♫ Audio: 1983 Manfred Ebanda – Osi Wasa

 

(consise) DISCOGRAPHY

 

JR.Nelson - Nyan'am 1985

In 1985 JR.Nelson scored in Cameroon with the record "Nyan'am". The album released on Toto Guillaume's record label was followed by the also successful albums "Ba iyo" in 1986 and "Dia" in 1987. The following years it became silent around JR.Nelson until 1998 when he came with the CD "Wuba dibola".

♫ Clip: 1998 Wuba Dibola  
♫ Audio: 1986 Ba Iyo  

DISCOGRAPHY

Ekwe Silo

Ekwe Silo started his musical career as a guitarist. At the end of the 80s he was successful with several solo albums with a fast up-tempo mix of Makossa and Zouk, the so-called Makozouk, which was popular in those years. 

In 1988 and 1989 he scored  hits in Cameroon with the song s Corps A Corps and Eyomendi.

♫ Audio: 1989 Ekwe Silo – Eyomendi

♫ Audio: 1988 Abele & Ekwe Silo – Corps A Corps

♫ Clip: 1988 Abele & Ekwe Silo – Corps A Corps (Part: 3 min. 11.sec)

DISCOGRAPHY

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