Cameroonian music just like African music is good rich thrilling music yet it’s exportation is dogged by many things. One of those things preventing Cameroonian music from reaching far-off frontiers is ,unfortunately, the length. Some of them are as long as 8 minutes. Please hold it right there before you utter this enormity “Were Toto Guillaume and Ange Ebogo songs not embraced despite their length”. If that’s the only bullet in your barrel then grow up because tastes and trends have changed considerably . R’n'B and rock have nothing on “Makossa” and “Mbagheuleum’ but they have stealthily became world music because their lengths tie with what media outlets allocate. We live in a world where time is a precious resource and if our musicians must get the airplay needed to popularise their music widely they must tailor them to the world trend which is about 3-4 minutes max for a song. In a world where we do not control mainstream media we have to bow to these unwritten rules else our music will never go beyond some thresholds. Even Cameroonian D.Js will confess to you that some of the songs aren’t played fully because they are too damn long and time isn’t free at any station. The world yearns for Cameroonian and African music but in the 21st century people can’t spare one whole day listening to one song. Diaspora- Cameroonian musicians have learnt the lesson but some home-based one’s have refused to listen. Isn’t it cost-wise for Rabba-Rabbi to take 7 minutes and record two songs than one. Feel free to disagree. One thing we all have a right to is an opinion.
Talented Cameroonian artist, Leela 1er journeyed to fame after creating ‘La danse du ”Ngueme” . His kind of music basically has a mixture of coupe decale and makossa. In this one, he proves to be more innovative creating a new dance move he calls ”La danse de l’epervier”. In my own translation ”The sparrow hawk dance” . You might have to be keen to learn these dance moves.
The criminal court of Gironde on Friday condemned the Cameroonian singer, Longue Longue to 10 years imprisonment for raping an underage girl in 2004.
Longue Longue , whose real names are Simon Longkana Agno who was detained in prison in Gradignan, appeared in private on Thursday and Friday before the jury in Gironde on charges of raping his wife’s niece, then aged 16 years. Chantal Ebene Mbassi whom Longue Longue married filed the suit in 2005.
According to our source, the girl came with her aunt in the Bordeaux region to be cured of cancer when she was only 10 years.
A complaint had been filed in 2005 and the musician was arrested and indicted. He made three and a half months of detention before being freed under judicial supervision.
After ”Kirikou est tout petit comme ça, mais il est fort ”, Longue Longue is back with a brand new video ”je ne mourrais pas’ extracted from his album ”A bas le Juda” released this year.
”Zangalewa” first lady, Annie Anzouer is back in the music scene after 5 years of absence with a brand new album composing 14 tracks titled”Partage. Her 4th album ”Partage” , which comes after others like Variations (1994), Visado (1997), Kwassio (1998) and Si Miyala (2004) is meant to share her voice, emotions and experiences with the entire world. The Cameroonian public is already appreciating the album. She is currently preparing to perform in a series of concerts around Cameroon. Remember she celebrated her 20 years in the music industry in May 2010. This album has a peculiar feeling due to the participation of his son , Jack Anzouer (on K’mer); Gizly Anzouer (on Abosso); Loue Ze, Valerie Belinga , Sahel (on Toucher tam-tam); Valerie Mengue (on Rentre chez toi); Sandrine Mengue, Epagna Kastro. We shall keep you posted about her upcoming videos.
Emilie Edimo hails from Nkake , a village situated some kilometres from Douala. She ventured into music at a tender age. She discovered that she could not part ways with music as her unique voice attracted much attention from veteran Makossa musicians like Dina Bell, Ben Decca, Monique Seka etc at ”Rocksy” cabaret. At “Sorento”, another renown cabaret in Douala , she graced the stage with artists like Papa Zoé.
She luckily found someone she loved who proposed to take her to Switzerland to pursue her dreams. This person finally became her husband. Her debut album dubbed “Pour nous” was root- Makossa blended with some folkloric rhythms from her province of origin.
Her new album ”Kongossa” is a masterpiece . Here is the video of ”Kongossa” directed by Jean Jacques T Video.
After ”Lilli” , here is a brand new video of ”Amour a deux , Amour a vie” by Roi Polo XVIII (Sergeo Polo) featuring Barbara Kanam. The song bears the title of his new album released early this year. The video was directed and produced by Quentin Brown. Cameroonian artists are taking the game to another level. The video is quite alluring.
Being a victim of a fatal car crash, the ”Njombos” crooner , Eriko has been absent from the Cameroon music scene for a while. He arrived in Douala from Paris on the 10th of August.
Eriko is actually back on his feet ! He demonstrated his come-back by putting up two electrifying shows in Douala- Bercy and the Yaounde Sports Complex on the 12th and 14th of August 2010 respectively , supported by artists like Krotal, Longuè Longuè, Nicole Mara, Racine Sa gâte, le Fada Kaotal, and Lady B.
He performed hits from his first album like ‘Yondo’ and ‘Njombo’s , his new single ” Je sors de loin” and other songs from his upcoming album.
Jacky Kingue is currently in the studio preparing his third album which he declares shall be released in 2011
The young singer who has had a long European adventure is getting set to stage a massive return to the music scene.
Jacky Kingué, since his last album Un pas de plus, has collaborated on album projects of artists such as Papillon, Chantal Ayissi and recently Benji Mateke.
He now owns a recording studio in France. Benji Mateke’s latest album was produced in this studio.
The Hip Hop Makossa adept ”GRINGO AU MIC” , a.k.a Big Bzy is currently in the studio to round up the recording of his new album titled ”One day, One D”. Hmm! I was about ending the phrase with ” E go pay”. Talking to Big Bzy, he confided that he has invited makossa artists like Kaissa Pakito, Papa Zoe and Hugo Nyame and Hip hop sensations like Franky P, VBH, Green Color to feature in the album.
Big Bzy was the first rapper to release an album in Cameroon on the 30th of May 2000 and Negrissm released theirs 2 months later.
”We di hope say this album ”One Day,One day go surely pay oh!”
Cameroonian music just like African music is good rich thrilling music yet it’s exportation is dogged by many things. One of those things preventing Cameroonian music from reaching far-off frontiers is ,unfortunately, the length. Some of them are as long as 8 minutes. Please hold it right there before you utter this enormity “Were Toto Guillaume and Ange Ebogo songs not embraced despite their length”. If that’s the only bullet in your barrel then grow up because tastes and trends have changed considerably . R’n'B and rock have nothing on “Makossa” and “Mbagheuleum’ but they have stealthily became world music because their lengths tie with what media outlets allocate. We live in a world where time is a precious resource and if our musicians must get the airplay needed to popularise their music widely they must tailor them to the world trend which is about 3-4 minutes max for a song. In a world where we do not control mainstream media we have to bow to these unwritten rules else our music will never go beyond some thresholds. Even Cameroonian D.Js will confess to you that some of the songs aren’t played fully because they are too damn long and time isn’t free at any station. The world yearns for Cameroonian and African music but in the 21st century people can’t spare one whole day listening to one song. Diaspora- Cameroonian musicians have learnt the lesson but some home-based one’s have refused to listen. Isn’t it cost-wise for Rabba-Rabbi to take 7 minutes and record two songs than one. Feel free to disagree. One thing we all have a right to is an opinion.
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