Stephan Eboumbou - the "Pete Best" of the Black Styl's

STEPHAN EBOUMBOU

Pete Best was the first drummer of The Beatles. He joined the band in 1959 but in 1962 - just before the band became successful - he was replaced by Ringo Starr. Something simular happened with Eboumbou, the first bass player and singer of the band that rose to fame under the name Black Styl.
In 1972 Nkotti Francois started to work as singer for Toto Ekane Felix, the director of the Davoum Bar in Douala. Soon after the young guitarists Mouelle Jean and Toto Guillaume were also recruted to play in the Davoum Bar. In an interview with Celistin Edjangue, Nkotti Francois told the story that after some time the original bass player / singer of the bar's house band was replaced by Emile Kangue. This person was Stephan Eboumbou.

We know what happened to Pete Best after he was forced to leave The Beatles. He tried several times with little success to create other bands. Later Best earned several million when the Beatles Antology was published including old recordings on which Pete Best took care of the drums.

PETE BEST

Lesser known is what happened with Stephane Eboumbou. I discovered that he recorded at least one 45 rpm single for the french Sonafric label. This single dates from around 1976.
SAF 1832  Stephan Eboumbou - Pardonnez, pardonnez moi.

In the same period he contributed also two songs (Lolakise & Ndolo ne ndima na ndoki) to the LP En passant par le Cameroun: Cameroun Partout Vol. 2 on the Disques Cousin label.

DC 8017 CAMEROUN PARTOUT VOL. 2

Sam Mangwana goes Makossa !!! - Eding epose

1991 SAM MANGWANA - DUTA LONGO   TN 603

During the late Eighties and early Nineties, Toto Guillaume produced some albums under the name of Africa Wonderful . One of the better known albums in this series is Féfé Bekombo accompagné par Africa Wonderful".  Less well known is that Toto Guillaume also produced an Africa Wonderful album in cooperation with Sam Mangwana. On this album from 1991 the master crooner of Congolese Rumba covers some Makossa classics in the Douala language!

The album contains six tracks arranged by Toto Guillaume for an all-out group of Cameroonian musicians. It was supposed to be Sam's follow up to his successful album Alladji, but  the album entitled Duta longo failed to have an impact on the international market. Probably because it was released in the old LP (vinyl) format.

The following two tracks, Eding epose and Makom ma ndolo are composed by two former members of the legendary group Los Calvinos. In the early Seventies Edouard Ebonge was the drummer and Manfred Nyamsi was the bass player of Los Calvinos.

Listen first to the original by Ebongue Edouard backed by Los Calvinos and enjoy then Sam Mangwana going Makossa.....!

1976    EBONGUE EDOUARD  -  SAF    1823

   
♫   

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