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| 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.
