Individually they are just three fellows but when they come together musically  they become the musical sensation called X Maleya. Since they burst unto the scene, the guys have been marching from victory unto victories. The artistic clout they have gathered has seen them doing duets with heavyweights like Passi, Pit Baccardi and Patience Dabany. Their new situation thus begs the question: are they Cameroon’s supreme  boy-band? Yes,they are. Their recent album “Tous Ensemble”  only underscored their boy-band power. After their November -12 concert at the Yaounde Sports Complex, any doubts about them  deserving this accolade were dispelled. Their performances exuded unparalleled maturity and professionalism with beautifully-choreographed moves and swag. In the Cameroonian -music scene which has been accustomed to mixed groups of people prancing haphazardly on stage, they seem poised to win the title of  first Cameroonian boy-band. They have what it takes ;the moves ,the looks and the hits. Furthermore,their ever-growing  legion of female fans is an indicator of their boy-band potential and steady transformation into sex symbols. Their hit-making habit   has catapulted their fame beyond national frontiers and placed them in the country’s select club of crowd- pulling artists alongside greats like Petit -Pays. If all this isn’t  supreme boy-band stuff then I don’t know what it is. However,their next challenge will be to confirm and consolidate their new-found fame.

People tend to forget one important fact

source:canaldor.com

as far as music is concerned: it is hinged on culture. And culture is an expression of a people’s beliefs,habits,values and world-view.Critics have often  impugned Cameroonian and African musicians because their songs are replete with people’s names.To them,this is a bad thing which should be erased in order to make Cameroonian music in particular and African music in particular more attractive to the world.We must note here that this view is a bias perception of music because it doesn’t consider the fact that music originates from culture.Since  every culture has its specificities,music from a particular culture MUST be different  from the others.Consequently, if Cameroonian music is heavily infused with praise-singing and references to people,it is because in our culture, music was equally used to sing-praises.Thus, this trait is a contemporary manifestation of our cultural values.Furthermore,apart from the cultural raison-d’etre of praise-singing ,one can add the fact that musicians as artists,on the same scale as writers,need some space to express gratitude to those who supported them.And before you say that can be placed on the c.d cover,remember that almost nobody is interested in the cover.They want the contents and punctuating your lyrics with benefactors’ names is a much resounding tribute. Critics are many and unaware of the fact that praise-singing gives African and Cameroonian music its uniqueness just as rap music is famous for its vivid and sincere depiction of ghetto life.Our music cannot be unique by always genuflecting to foreign appreciation of us.Should we add that there’s a certain talent,finesse and creativity needed to come up with a good song that merges praise-singing and messages.Feel free to disagree. It is very convenient to label  Petit-Pays as a praise-singer but if its easy,others should praise-sing their way to the top as he did.

Trending Camer Afro beat  trio X Maleya and Soul Makossa giant Petit Pays just collaborated with Gabonese diva , Patience Dabany in a soul-touching song ”Set sur 7”. The song was produced by Cameroon top producer , Edgar Yonkeu  and the video was directed by Boss Playa. It’s exclusive !

Enjoy

Just like he promised on Tchop Tchop’s Jambo TV, Canal 2 , Petit Pays ‘s latest composition “Gagnez gagnez” has finally been released. The accompanying single “Gagnez gagnez” featuring Nollywood sweetheart Stella Damascus has all the trappings of a smash  hit, an entrancing beat and a nice chorus. Stella Damasus’ image is equally seen on the album cover art. Even die-hard Petit-Pays fans are revisiting their bitter diatribes of the  popular crowd-puller. Some are drawing parallels between this album and some  famed ones like “Mbemba Mot’a sawa”. Although unanimity escapes even critics, most agree that this album is reminiscent of the Petit-Pays in “Ca fait mal” given the themes contained therein. The entire album seems to contain  remixed versions of his previously released tunes.

Contact  96 92 81 55 to grab a copy

Hey NexDim Fashionistas, tickets for entry into the prestigious Cameroonian culture filled Miss Cameroon UK 2011 beauty pageant featured some days back on your everyday entertainment site http://nexdimempire.com/tag/miss-cameroon-uk-2011/ are available and very limited by hall size.

The tickets are available at very moderate and affordable prices as from the 18th to the 26th of November when the event finally takes place. Standard tickets stand at £35 to £50 while Standard Table for 10 seats goes only for £300, and VIP is available upon request.NexDimers, this is it!!!, Do not miss the chance to be part of this once in a lifetime event as the popular Cameroonian king of makossa Petit Pays performs live on stage in Porchester Hall, London, with Jamaican Tyzane starring as special guest artist.
Go you nowhere, rather follow suit with an After Party in a grand style at O’bar Night Club, 43 Peckham High Street-London.

Chaiiiii na njoka be this?

BETTER GO GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!!!

For more info contact: 07956 454 786 or 07958041638
Or visit the website: http://www.misscameroonuk.co.uk/

During a press conference in Bonakouamoua, Douala on the 28th of April 2011, ”L’avocat defenseur des femmes”, Rabba Rabbi”  a.k.a Petit Pays  declared that the 19th to the 21st of every month of May shall henceforth be celebrated in Cameroon as ”Petit-Pays Days”. No  comment !. The famous Cameroonian artist disclosed that these days shall be meant to celebrate his musical career and his love for football. These days will therefore be graced by  grand musical concerts on May 20th at the Mbappe Lepe stadium,Douala and on May 21st at The Wada sports complex, Yaounde . Ekambi Brillant, Ben Decca, San Fan Thomas, Macase, Lady Ponce and Sans Visas shall be part of this pageantry. Also remarkable shall be the presence of Antoine Bell.

A Judicial source confirms that Petit Pays has been declared   ”wanted” by the police after escaping judgement at the  Court of First Instance in Bonanjo. He is accused of fraud and breach of trust. An event promoter is claiming the sum of 40 million Frs CFA . According to him, Rabba Rabbi did not honour invitations for two concerts despite receiving payment.

This is however not the first complaint filed against Petit Pays for fraud.   In April 29, 2009, Patrick  Eugene Mpacko and Alfreci Mbagaza, accused Petit Pays of embezzlement and demanded the sum of 1,210,000 francs CFA from him. The two young guards declared that they have worked with  Petit Pays for two years without getting their full wages of 80 000 francs CFA.

Petit Pays was the most popular  Cameroonian Musician in the 80s and 90s and he keeps  making hits in the 2000s. He has massively influenced the trend of music in his country especially proliferating the unique  ”Makossa Love” and enabling many artists to start a career like Guy MANU, Philippe MILOKO, Samy DIKO, NDJOREUR, NGUEBO solo, PAKITO, Sylvain NGONDI, Xavier LAGAF, XIBI de YAOUNDE, SAMANTHA, NGANDO CAIMAN, GUIZO des AMOURS, LONGO LAGRIFFE, MATHEMATIK, 007, MONNY EKA, LE MARQUIS, etc…

He was born in the month of JUNE , reason why NEXDIM decided to profile Cameroon’s biggest celebrity.

Petit MOUNDY Claude Adolphe was born on the 5th of June 1967 in Douala of a middle class family. Son of Marthe and ANDE’E Grand MOUNDY, he was brought up entirely by his mother. He was  named “Petit” MOUNDY Claude Adolphe.
”Moundy” in the Douala language literally means “PAYS” in French, linked with the man who made himself a nickname.

He has created a musical concept of his own, ”Makossa-love”  which has established him as the biggest Star of the century in Cameroon and beyond.

He  is rightly called the “King of Makossa-love, Avocat defenseur des femmes , Turbo d’Afrique, Rabba Rabbi “

Apart from Manu DIBANGO , he  is the only artist from Cameroon who has an impeccable reputation recognized throughout the entire African continent and reached his peak after 10 years of musical career.
Petit Pays  spent his entire childhood in Bon’edjan,  Bonakouamang, Bonamouti ( Akwa in Douala with his friends and brothers Alain Njoki, Geog’man (G. Dipital) Dikondo Yaba, Moundy Sword, Pepe Nde, Same-François Eyango Awa Elimby, Fanfan, Dan Issedou Kuo,  Doumbe, Jean-François Dissake (jeff) Sisaroma, and many others.

As a teenager, he was already a “phenomenon” . He was very quickly pointed out during football tournaments in cadet category as very good technician which for years earned him the nickname “Roger Milla”.

At This time, he thought of  commencing a brilliant professional football career, but his passion for music will prevail widely.  After his primary education, he continued his secondary education at CPFO II . He began seriously taking guitar lessons with  Marco Mbella  ”l’homme avant-gardiste de sa  generation.”

Petit Pays stayed away from school spending sleepless nights to rehearse vocals and instrumental interpretation of popular songs and especially listening to the advice of  Emmanuel EBOA LOTTIN.

Against all odds, despite family pressure, Petit Pays  gradually abandoned his studies to dedicate himself to his future musical career. In the 80s, finding a local producer was an incredible challenge for all artists who were forced to emigrate in order to achieve their dreams, here is an additional difficulty that presents itself to him.

In 1985, with the help of his understanding mother and his uncle Bernard JABA, the future of the African music star flew to Paris, ostensibly for him to study law.

Upon his arrival, he sought for a producer.  He had a unique  musical philosophy  which was not comprehended at that time . He  started  doing performing popular songs with the aspiration of getting a  good producer: “I will show that I’m talented enough” was his goal.
In 1986, during the Chirac government,  with Charles Pasqua as interior minister, the official studies of Petit-Pays stopped. He finds himself  in handcuffs on an airplane in Roissy bound for Yaounde, Cameroon.

His expulsion from the French territory rather widely expanded his repertoire of songs , so he composed a very rhythmic song titled ”ca fait mal” in which he describes  his administrative detention and deportation. Eyabe KWEDI “EYAMB’S PRODUCTIONS”  accorded confidence in Petit Pays and produced his first album  in December 1987 and thus he began his musical career.

A year later in December 1988, he recorded his second album “Ancien Parigo” which established him as a young talented Cameroonian musician  appreciated by the majority of his compatriots from the North to South with songs like  “Mumi” and “Salamalekum” .

Very proactive, he did a lot of free services for associations and Afro-Caribbean clubs to confirm his talent and enhance his brand awareness in the Cameroon and  Paris market.He released his 3rd album called ”Trouver la vie” in 1990.
Petit Pays having conquered his homeland, had the ambition to conquer the whole of Africa, Europe, North America. He started Makossa Love and  created his orchestra the “Sans Visa”  in remembrance of the year 1986.

most controversial album cover in Cameroon music history

Manu Lima became his new music programmer, and hooked up with  Alain NDJOCKE and did his 4th album  ”Les morts ne sont pas mort EYAMOYO” in March 1992 that went number 1 in music charts in Abidjan, Lomé, Ouagadougou, Libreville, Niamey …) and the Carribeans were madly in love with the song ”ca ne va pas”

His musical tour with his band became very frequent in Africa, America, Caribbean, Europe, Canada,  as the demand became more  explosive.

He  finds time to compose his 5th album “Avant Gout” in April 1993 and coronates himself as ”LE TURBO D’AFRIQUE”.

Songs  such as “Muléma, c’est bon and Mumi” were widely played. This album was top of many top radio hit parades. He exploded with  ”NIOXXER” in 1994 and ”Korta” in 1995.

“Le Meilleur des meilleurs” was released in March 1995.

Even kids sang the  refrain “”A Abidjan ça nioxxe, à Etoudi ça nioxxe, nioxxer, nioxxer!
Petit Pays’ music  is unavoidable. His unique and ideal style has become a reference in African music.

He continues to help young people to develop their careers in music. Reason why he started an orchestra, ”Les Sans Visa”.

In May 1996, he released his 7th album “CLASS F CLASS M”  which was the  most mediatised of Petit Pays’ albums. In less than a week more than 50,000 tapes were sold in Cameroon, “Du jamais vu” .

He was declared ”wanted” by the Cameroonian national security because he was enacted as a “Fool” and because he violated modesty with the cover of this album. He hastily left Cameroon, and his  mother was imprisoned. All critics were desperate.

Petit Pays lets the tornado to pass away before returning to Cameroon. This time, the big news was “Petit Pays is crazy, he walks naked , tied at the Kribi market” .This became the main theme of his second album (double LP) “Evangile I and II” in September 97 and ”Le CV de Petit Pays”

Over 10 years , Petit Pays has  continued to rise producing more albums some with ”Les Sans Visa”

In 2007,he released one of his most controversial albums ”Frotambo” which has the song ”Pedes”. He literally acknowledges in the song is is a homosexual.

In 2009, Petit Pays surprised Cameroonians as he was seen at T.B Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos on Emmanuel TV. He declared to has given his life to Jesus and born again. Since then Petit Pays has released ”Caiman” in 2009 elected President of CAIMAN football club in Douala and ”God Go PAY” in 2010.

Discography

• 1987: Ça fait mal (Eyab’s Productions EP 010)
• 1988: Ancien parigo / Salamalekum(Eyab’s Productions EP 015)
• 1990: Trouver la vie(TJR AT 087)
• 1991: Les manières de la vie(Local cassette)
• 1992: Les morts ne sont pas morts(Milan BMG France 873043)
• 1993: Avant-goût(Melodie 08619-2)
• 1994: Andy – Best of(Eyab’s/Melodie 08660-2)
• 1994: Nioxxer(Local cassette)
• 1995: Korta – les dignitaires(TJR CDAT 137)
• 1995: Le Meilleur des Meilleurs(Melodie 08683-2)
• 1996: Classe F/Classe M(Sonodisc 83232)
• 1997: Le CV de Petit pays(Blue Silver 50654-2)
• 1997: Evangile I & II(Sonodisc 83211/83212)
• 1998: Le son d’amour(Septocam/Sonodisc 83218)
• 1999: Esuwa(Eyab’s Productions/Melodie 08980)
• 1999: Coup d’État(JPS Production CDJPS 053)
• 2000: Bisou sur la tomate(Fotso Kamgue FK510)
• 2001: Ya pas match(Sonima)
• 2002: Maestro(JPS Production CDJPS 188)
• 2002: L’amour dans l’avion(Omega Production/Sonima SMCD 1414)
• 2003: Ennemi Public(Omega Production/Sonima SMCD 1441)
• 2003: Dieu le père(B.Mas BMP000176)
• 2004: Embouteillage(Omega Production)
• 2005: La Monako(RTM Prod)
• 2006: Ekamofock(Omega Production)
• 2007: FROTAMBO(Lavisa Productions)
• 2008: FIKO FIKO(GB Productions)
• 2009: Caiman
• 2010: God Go Pay

In the year 1992,  Xavier-Lagaf ‘s father  lost his job at the BATA as accounting manager. Obliged to pay for his studies alone, he decided to begin with small jobs from neighborhood to neighborhood.
He trekked about ten km each day from his  place of residence to Lycee Deido where he was student.
He loved to sing in class  which was much pleasure for  his classmates.

In 1993, Xavier saved money and bought Petit-Pays’ album titled ”avant gout’‘ .His aspiration was to sing like Petit-Pays while improvising.

In 1994, Xavier craved to expose his talents. He decided t0 be part of the Music Club in Lycee Deido.

In 1996,  Xavier became the interpreter of Petit Pays’ songs in the school cycle together with Monny Eka.

In 1997-1998, Xavier not seeing a possibility of joining Les Sans Visa de Petit-Pays decided to continue pursuing his studies until SAMY DIKO released his debut album which made waves in Cameroon. He was lucky to meet Samy Diko and became his back up vocalist.

1999 was his year of glory, Xavier decided to audition at Makepe to become a member of  Les Sans Visa which turned out positive.

He released ”Je vais me remarier” which had enormous success around Cameroon.

Songs composed by Xavier Lagaf

WALLA’A(malondo magoulè)

ONGWANE MBA

MALEA(ROBOCOP)

BISOU SUR LA TOMATE with FEELINGUEE HIROSHIMA

L’ HYMNE DE PETIT PAYS performed by LES SANS VISAS before the start of every show.

JE VAIS ME REMARIER

BONGOLO- BONGOLO improvised during a concert and included in the album by public demand.

EYO’O

ISSONE

BEMUNE

NA  KOUSSI PERFORMED BY  SAMANTA FOX

BEFORE

AFTER