The Cameroonian music scene has a new diva in the person of Cristy Sweet born Ndomo Cristelle. After having flirted with hip hop groups like Natural D.C and danced for heavy weights like K-Tino , the red-haired artist decided to go solo and recently released her debut album containing huge doses of bikutsi, her favourite rhythm, and hints of hip-hop , meringue,etc. In the overcrowded Cameroonian music arena, this lady formerly known as Cristy D.C stands out not only by her hair style but also by her intensity. Although she can be considered another quintessential bikutsi artist - i.e who can’t sing without refering to “man and woman” palaver, one kind of falls in love with her style – she uses imagery from popular cartoon characters to sing about what she sings about. Get a listen for yourself, you’ll surely love it.
Bikutsi star Lady Ponce will be on stage come March 8 for a concert. What’s special about this? Well it’s not the fact that it is going to be on Women’s day. The concert is going to take place at her cabaret “Ponce Attitude’ that is situated in the Ekié neighbourhood in Yaounde and is touted by some to be amongst the best in town. Talk of artists diversifying and branching out into business ventures. Lady fans of the artist are sure going to be served with the breathtaking and intense performances she is known for. While waiting for the concert date here is one of her most recent music videos “Carosserie”
Ladies seem to have cracked the Bikutsi code more than their male counterparts. Going by the number of women bursting unto to scene this assessment is very true. One of the ladies who has been making waves recently is CocoArgentée. Born Nytem Mekuku Corinne ,the Belgium- based artist released ,to much fanfare, her first album entitled “Nostalgie” in 2011. She wrote and passed the popularity test with electrifying perfromances at Yafe and Caroussel. So much hype greeted her coming that one question is worth asking ? Is she Bikutsi’s new It girl? Well, if you’re a fan of the usual Bikutsi- heavily couched in innuendo’s- then this is your girl. But if you’re looking for something new and fresh, then you better re-shelf your hopes. This artist is a true student of the K-Tino school of Bikutsi. Controversial lyrics, provocative dancing, 6 minutes + long songs etc. There is nothing special about the artist. Just another one exploiting the public’s immoral penchants. See for yourself.
“Bikutsi” is said to mean “Let’s hit the ground”. It is a rhythm characterised by huge strokes of the guitar. Originally ,it was played using the traditional guitar known as the “mveng” but thanks to pionners like Late Messi martin it was transposed to the modern electric guitar. The name Bikutsi today brings to mind many things. One of such is unfortunately immorlality. Some people consider Bikutsi a good synonym for words like decadence and moral degradation. They say it is a shameful heir to that of Ange Ebogo and Zanzibar. But who is to blame? It is no secret that Bikutsi artists are some of those with the widest appeal and highest of sales. This fact begs one question :can Bikutsi sell without being morally controversial. The most popular bikutsi artists are those whose songs are laced with sexual innuendos. The public is always very quick to criticise but who buys those c.ds. Instead of critising in public and enjoying in private ,the public can express its disapproval by boycotting these artists. Not all bikutsi artists do controversy but most have made it their speciality. If Bikutsi is considered to have gone sour it is simply because people take the artists to be representative of the rhythm. These two things aren’t interchangeable. The rhythm should not lose its worth because it is used to sing controversy. Jazz can equally be criticised if Jazzmen start using it to sing controversy. Criticise the artists not the rhythm. Feel free to disagree.
Bikutsi front woman Lady Ponce has just released a new music video “Carrosserie”. This song is from her fourth album“La loi du talion” which was released last year. While every work of art deserves praise, we must say that the video would have been better off without the amateurish visual effects at the start. The song is also too long: 6 minutes 54 seconds. That’s practically enough time for two songs. Talk of shooting one bird with two stones. Apart from these gray spots, the song is the exquisite Bikutsi the Lady is famed for and fans should get ready for positive messages and no “ventre or bas -ventre” talk when listening to this song. See for yourself.
After entertaining the Yaounde public, the 2011 version of the cultural jamboree known as Festi-bikutsi closed its doors with an award ceremony. Mani bella was crowned best female bikutsi artist of the year. Music duo Les 2 Ki Tu walked home with the best new male artist award while Letis Diva got the award in the female category. Other winners were Biberon Cerveau for best foreign-based artist, Odilon Masso for best stage performance and Amazone Mintsa got the public’s choice award. The 13 edition of the festival ended with award for male artist of the year not being given for the lack of a deserving nominee.
While recording her new album, The Queen of Bikutsi, Lady Ponce is establishing herself as an entrepreneur. She has just launched her Cabaret and a VIP Beauty Saloon in Yaounde.
These two enterprises are registered under her company , PONCE ATTITUDE.
Patou Bass is an artist and musician who, some years ago released an album entitled “Sans toi”.
He presents his latest album, the 3rd entitled “Tranche de vie” . The artist has not deviated from his original style, “Bikutsi.
However, according to his own statements, he certainly has a rhythm that comes from elsewhere, but not so far away: The “Abolaza’a,” a dance of southern Cameroon.
This new LP is preachy and the author tackles themes of family and social life (incest, rape … “the little sister of my wife), and will not detract from the theme of unconditionallove that, it must be said, has always made it successful.
The Cameroonian music scene has a new diva in the person of Cristy Sweet born Ndomo Cristelle. After having flirted with hip hop groups like Natural D.C and danced for heavy weights like K-Tino , the red-haired artist decided to go solo and recently released her debut album containing huge doses of bikutsi, her favourite rhythm, and hints of hip-hop , meringue,etc. In the overcrowded Cameroonian music arena, this lady formerly known as Cristy D.C stands out not only by her hair style but also by her intensity. Although she can be considered another quintessential bikutsi artist - i.e who can’t sing without refering to “man and woman” palaver, one kind of falls in love with her style – she uses imagery from popular cartoon characters to sing about what she sings about. Get a listen for yourself, you’ll surely love it.
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