Jean Paul Monny - Moni 1979

 

After Manu Dibango's  "Soul Makossa", Jean Paul Monny's "Soul of Cameroon", was the first record from Cameroon that I ever listened to. It must have been around 1980. In that same year Monny made another LP with the title Cathy. Since that time I have never heard aneything about him. Just recently during the preparation of this post I foud out that he released the cd single Nana Khady in 2006.

♫ Clip: Nana Khady



Negus Ekotto - Car'a mbamba - 1981

1981 Negus Ekotto - Car'a mbamba / Ewande  NEG 001

In 1981 Negus Ekotto released this 12 inch single. The record did very well and both songs became real Makossa classics. In general it is not common that a Makossa singer is mentioned as "lead vocalist" on his or her own records. Mostly only the names of the background vocalists are mentioned on the cover. So also in this case it was quite normal that Negus Ekotto was only mentioned as writer and composer of both songs.

What surprised me when I heard this two particular songs for the first time in the mid-eighties, was that I immediately recognized the voice of Ndedi Dibango as lead vocalist. As far as I know, Ndedi Dibango released the first album under his own name - Epapala - in 1983. Later I found out that Ndedi Dibango, who was at that time still an unknown talent, "borrowed" his voice to Negus Ekotto on this record. That explains why Dibango is only mentioned on the cover as percusionist.

Unlike Ndedi Dibango, Negus Ekotto seems almost forgotten. That's why today, most people relate these two songs to Ndedi Dibango, who is still regarded as one of the finest male Makossa vocalists.

♫ Audio: 1981 Car'a mbamba   

Lapiro de Mbanga: 1957 - 2014

Lambo Pierre Roger Sandjo aka LAPIRO (first two letters of each of his names) de Mbanga was born on April 7 in Mbanga, Littoral Region Cameroon. Lapiro decided to leave his carpentry career for his passion in music after his advance level certificate. His music career took him to Nigeria, Benin and Gabon and upon his return to Cameroon in 1985 he composed songs that spoke about the socio-economic realities of his country and the continent. After a first hit with Pas argent no love his real break through came with No make erreur on which he shared vocals with reggae star Jimmy Cliff. He was nicknamed Ndinga Man (the guitar man) for his savoir faire in the art. Through his songs he became the voice of the downtrodden in Cameroonian society.

 ♫ 1986 No make erreur

Lapiro de Mbanga somewhat fell out with the Cameroon people in the early 90s when he was accused by public opinion for siding with the regime. He had called for Cameroonians to clamour for change in a peaceful manner and not resort to violence that would have plunged the country into a cicil war. Chastised, Lapiro went silent for a while and emerged again in 2008 to denounce a proposed constitutional amendment that would give life preseidency for incumbent President Biya. This was in the song Constituition constupée (Constipated constitution).

♫ 2008 Constitution constipée

Arrested in april 2008 (shortly after the 2008 demonstrations) Lapiro was sentenced on September 24 2008 to three years in prison after he was found guilty of complicity in looting, arson, destruction of property, charges he all denied.

He was released from prison in 2011 after which he relased his last album Demissionnez (Resign) in which he called on President Biya to resign following his failure to govern Cameroon.

♫ 2011 Demissionnez

Facing all forms of intimidations and threats , Lapiro, his wife and his three children sought refuge in the USA in 2012, where he finally died in 2014.

See also: Wikipedia - Lapiro de Mbanga

♫ 8/6/2013: His last concert in Europe

♫ 22/3/2014: docu Canal Hit: Hommage a Lapiro de Mbanga

DISCOGRAPHY

Orchestre Negro Styl de Douala



Founded by Nelle Eyoum, Orchestre Negro Styl de Douala was one of the most influential Makossa bands of the Sixties and Seventies. Many famous singers like Ngalle Jojo, Gauthi Helle, Sadey Egide and Salle John, to name just a few, started their career in the ranks of Negro Styl.

NEGRO STYL DE DOUALA

 

 

DISCOGRAPHY

 

♫ Audio: 1976 Ngalle Jojo & le T.P. Negro Styl – Diboa La Ndolo (Maladie d’Amour)

 



♫ Audio: Nelle Eyoum Emmanuel et le Tout Puissant Negro Styl – Dissuk Su

 



♫ Audio: Nelle Eyoum Emmanuel et l’Orchestre Negro Styl – Nuye Ye Bobe

 

 

 



Georges Seba - Diboul 1983

Georges Seba is born on May 9, 1959 at Amvam, a village near the town Enongal un the south of Cameroon. After graduating from university he decided to follow his passion for music. He made seven albums from 1979 to 1994, some of which have sold over 100.000 copies. He has collaborated with such artists as Deedee Bridgewater, Alpha Blondy, Celine Dion and Kassav.

♫ 1989 Barré collé

He is conductor of gospol choirs across France and Europe. He led the Cherubim for twenty years and now devotes himself to his new band, The Gospel Choir of Paris, whose television appearances have been appreciated in programs such as Tarata Sacred Evening, Red Carpet, Vivement Dimanche, Star Academy, or stille more recently the Symphonic Show.

♫ Georges Seba et le Choeur Gospel de Paris 

DISCOGRAPHY

 

 

Gilly Doumbe - Things like this 1990

During the late eighties Gilly Doumbe was a popular session guitarist, who participated on many Makossa records. In 1990 he made a versy successful record titled Makossa Syndrum on Aladji Toure's record label. With the hit song Things like this, he dominated the Cameroon dancefloors during 1990 and 1991. His next album My feeling with the song Virgule did also very well. After this record he disappeared from the scene and does not seem to have released any new album since then.

♫ 1990: Gilly Doumbe - Things Like This

 

Manuel Guysso

Manuel Guysso, composer, arranger and guitar wizard, started his musical career at the end of the sixties. It was Nelle Eyoum who guided him during the first steps of his career. In 1971 he made his first 45 rpm single Sunga mba. More singles and LP's followed. In 1977 he shows his skills as guitarist with the album Manuel Guysso et le Rayon X. Since the early eighties it has become silent around him.

♫ Audio: 1977 O's'en Te