Bamileke drummers in Cameroon's West Province.

The best-known Music of Cameroon is makossa, a popular style that has gained fans across Africa, and its related dance craze bikutsi. Image File history File links Tamtam. ... Image File history File links Tamtam. ... Bamileke dancers in Batié, West Province The Bamileke (French Bamiléké) are a collection of Semi-Bantu (or Grassfields Bantu) ethnic groups most highly concentrated in the western highlands of Cameroons West Province, west of the Noun River and southeast of the Bamboutos Mountains and in the Mungo region... The West Province (French Province de lOuest) is 14,000 sq km of territory located in the central-western portion of the Republic of Cameroon. ... Makossa is a type of music which is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Bikutsi is a musical genre from Cameroon. ...

The pirogue sailors of Douala are known for a kind of singing called ngoso, which has evolved into a kind of modern much accompanied by zanza, balafon and various percussion instruments. A pirogue on the Niger River in Mali. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... The balafon is a pentatonic or heptatonic resonated frame xylophone of West Africa. ... Percussion redirects here. ...

Traditional music

Beti

Cameroon is home to numerous distinct ethnic groups. The Beti, or Ewondo, are among the most numerous, and live in the area around Yaoundé and south into Equatorial Guinea. The Beti are best-known for bikutsi music, which has been popularized and become a rival for the more urban and accessible makossa of Douala. Bikutsi is characterized by an intense 6/8 rhythm, and is played at all sorts of Beti gatherings, including parties, funerals and weddings. The word bikutsi can be loosely translated as beating the ground continuously. The Beti-Pahuin are a group of related peoples who inhabit the rain forest regions of Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe. ... View of Yaoundé Yaoundé, «yah oon DAY», estimated population 1,430,000 (2004), is the capital city of Cameroon and second largest city in the country after Douala. ... Bikutsi is a musical genre from Cameroon. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

Beti gatherings fall into two major categories: Makossa is a type of music which is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. ... Bikutsi is a musical genre from Cameroon. ... The Assiko is a very spectacular and popular dance from the South of Cameroon. ... Bend-skin (bend shin) is a kind of urban Cameroonian popular music. ... Bantowbol is a centre and south traditionnal music. ... Ambasse bey or ambas-i-bay is a style of folk music and dance from Cameroon. ... The Central African Republic includes many different cultures and musical forms. ... Describing the music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is difficult, due to vagaries surrounding the meanings of various terms. ...

• Ekang phase: the time when imaginary, mythological and spiritual issues are discussed
• Bikutsi phase: when real-life issues are discussed

A double sided harp with calabash amplification called the mvet is used during these ceremonies, by Beti storytellers, who are viewed as using the mvet as an instrument of God to educate the people. The Ekang phase is intensely musical, and usually lasts all night. There are poetic recitations accompanied by clapping and dancing, with interludes for improvised and sometimes obscene performances on the balafon (a type of xylophone). These interludes signal the shift to the bikutsi phase, which is much less strictly structured than Ekang. During bikutsi, women dance and sing along with the balafon, and lyrics focus on real-life problems, as well as sexual fantasies. These female choruses are an integral part of bikutsi, and their intense dancing and screams are characteristic of the genre. Another type of ceremony is the mevungu, when women dance all night in order to abstain from sex during those hours for a period of nine days. The so ritual is much-feared by Beti boys, as it involves a series of tests to mark a boy's passage into manhood. For other uses, see Harp (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Molina) Standl. ... The balafon is a pentatonic or heptatonic resonated frame xylophone of West Africa. ... Kulintang a Kayo, a Philippine xylophone The xylophone (from the Greek meaning wooden sound) is a musical instrument in the percussion family which probably originated in Indonesia. ... Look up so, SO in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Modern Cameroonian music

The earliest recorded music from Cameroon comes from the 1930s, when the most popular styles were imported pop music and French-style chanson. In Douala, the most-developed city in Cameroon, accordions and ambasse bey music were common, with performers like Lobe Lobe, Ebanda Manfred and Nelle Eyoum finding a local audience. Ekambi Brillant and the first major Cameroonian hit, "N'Gon Abo", set the stage for the development of makossa. Post-independence in 1960, a local variant on palm wine music called assiko was popular, especially Jean Bikoko and Dikoume Bernard. The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known as the World Depression. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... Chanson is a French word for song, and in English-language contexts is often applied to any song with French words, particularly a cabaret song. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Accordion (disambiguation). ... Ambasse bey or ambas-i-bay is a style of folk music and dance from Cameroon. ... Makossa is a type of music which is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Palm-wine music (known as maringa in Sierra Leone) is a West African musical genre. ... The Assiko is a very spectacular and popular dance from the South of Cameroon. ...

The urbanization of Cameroon has had a major influence on the country's music. Migration to the city of Yaoundé, for example, was a major cause for the popularization of bikutsi music. During the 1950s, bars sprang up across the city to accommodate the influx of new inhabitants, and soon became a symbol for Cameroonian identity in the face of colonialism. Balafon orchestras, consisting of 3-5 balafons and various percussion instruments (including the balafon, which is both a harmonic and percussive instrument) became common in the bars. Some of these orchestras, such as Richard Band de Zoetele, became quite popular in spite of scorn from the European elite.

1950s and 60s

The middle of the 20th century saw the popularization of a native folk music called bikutsi. Bikutsi is based on a war rhythm played with various rattles and drums and xylophone. Sung by women, bikutsi featured sexually explicit lyrics and songs about everyday problems. In a popularized form, bikutsi gained mainstream success in the 1950s. Anne-Marie Nzie was perhaps the most important of the early innovators The next bikutsi performer of legendary stature was Messi Me Nkonda Martin and his band, Los Camaroes, who added electric guitars and other new elements. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Folk song redirects here. ... A rattle is a percussion musical instrument. ... For other uses, see Drum (disambiguation). ... Kulintang a Kayo, a Philippine xylophone The xylophone (from the Greek meaning wooden sound) is a musical instrument in the percussion family which probably originated in Indonesia. ... Anne-Marie Nzié is a Cameroonian bikutsi singer. ... An electric guitar An electric guitar is a type of guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into electrical current, which is then amplified. ...

Balafon orchestras had remained popular throughout the 50s in Yaoundé's bar scene, but the audience demanded modernity and the popular style at the time was unable to cope. Messi Martin was a Cameroonian guitarist who had been inspired to learn the instrument by listening to Spanish language-broadcasts from neighboring Equatorial Guinea, as well as Cuban and Zairean rumba. Messi changed the electric guitar by linking the strings together with pieces of paper, thus giving the instrument a damper tone that emitted a "thudding" sound similar to the balafon. This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... For other uses, see Zaire (disambiguation). ... Soukous (also known as Lingala or Congo, and previously as African rumba) is a musical genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa. ...

Messi's style was immediately popular, and his hits, like "Mengalla Maurice" and "Bekono Nga N'Konda", became radio favorites throughout the country beginning in the early 60s. Further innovations followed, as Messi replaced the handclaps and sanza with a synthesizer and the foot-stamping 6/8 rhythm to drums. For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ...

1970s

Later in the 1960s, modern makossa developed and became the most popular genre in Cameroon. Makossa is a type of funky dance music, best-known outside Africa for Manu Dibango, whose 1972 single "Soul Makossa" was an international hit. Outside of Africa, Dibango and makossa were only briefly popular, but the genre has produced several pan-African superstars through the 70s, 80s and 90s. Following Dibango, a wave of musicians electrified makossa in an attempt at making it more accessible outside of Cameroon. Another pop singer in 1970s Cameroon was André-Marie Tala, a blind singer who had a pair of hits with "Sikati" and "Potaksima". The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... Makossa is a type of music which is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. ... For other uses, including related musical genres, see Funk (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Manu Dibango (born December 12, 1933) is a Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone player. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

By the 1970s, bikutsi performers like Maurice Elanga, Les Veterans and Mbarga Soukous added brass instruments and found controversy over pornographic lyrics. Mama Ohandja also brought bikutsi to new audiences, especially in Europe. The following decade, however, saw Les Tetes Brulées surpass previous artists in international popularity, though their reaction at home was mixed. Many listeners did not like their mellow, almost easy listening-styled bikutsi. Cameroonian audiences preferred more roots-based performers like Jimmy Mvondo Mvelé and Uta Bella, both from Yaoundé. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Image of a trumpet, foreground, a piccolo trumpet behind, and a flugelhorn in background. ... Mama Ohandja is a Cameroonian singer, musical arranger, dancer and choreographer. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Les Têtes Brulées are a Cameroonian band known for a mellow pop version of the bikutsi dance music. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... View of Yaoundé Yaoundé, «yah oon DAY», estimated population 1,430,000 (2004), is the capital city of Cameroon and second largest city in the country after Douala. ...

1980s

By the 1980s, makossa had moved to Paris and a new pop-makossa that fused elements of Antillean zouk. Prominent musicians from this period included Moni Bilé, Douleur, Bébé Manga, Ben Decca, Petit-Pays, and Esa. This article is about the capital of France. ... The Antilles (the same in French; Antillas in Spanish; Antillen in Dutch) refers to the islands forming the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. ... Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from Guadeloupe and Martinique. ... Mono Bilé is a Cameroonian makossa musician. ... Elizabeth Bessem Manga aka Bébé Manga is a Cameroonian singer whose best-known song is Ami O. Bebe Manga started her career in 1975, singing in a night club in Abidjan, (Côte dIvoire) called Son de Guitare (Sound of a guitar). ... Petit-Pays is a Cameroonian makossa musician. ... This article is about the European Space Agency. ...

The 80s also saw rapid development of Cameroon's media which saw a flourishing of both makossa and bikutsi. In 1980, L'Equipe Nationale de Makossa was formed, joining the biggest makossa stars of the period together, including Grace Decca, Ndedi Eyango, Ben Decca, Guy Lobe and Dina Bell. Makossa in the 80s saw a wave of mainstream success across Africa and, to a lesser degree, abroad, as Latin influences, Martinican zouk and pop music changed its form. While makossa enjoyed international renown, bikutsi was often denigrated as the music of savages and it did not appeal across ethnic lines and into urban areas. Musicians continued to add new innovations, however, and improved recording techniques; Nkondo Si Tony, for example, added keyboards and synthesizers, while Elanga Maurice added brass instruments. Les Veterans emerged as the most famous bikutsi group in the 80s, while other prominent performers included Titans de Sangmelima, Seba Georges, Ange Ebogo Emerent, Otheo and Mekongo President, who added complex harmonies and jazz influences. Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Ndedi Eyango, known for his stage name Prince Eyango, is a musician from Cameroon. ... (Unofficial region flag) (Region logo) Location Administration Capital Regional President Departments Martinique Arrondissements 4 Cantons 45 Communes 31 Statistics Land area1 1,128 km² Population (Ranked 24th)  - January 1, 2006 est. ... Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from Guadeloupe and Martinique. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... Image of a trumpet, foreground, a piccolo trumpet behind, and a flugelhorn in background. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ...

In 1984, a new wave of bikutsi artists emerged, including Sala Bekono formerly of Los Camaroes, Atebass, a bassist, and Zanzibar, a guitarist who would eventually help form Les Têtes Brulées with Jean-Marie Ahanda. 1985 saw the formation of CRTV, a television network that did much to help popularize Cameroonian popular music across the country. This article is about the year. ... Les Têtes Brulées are a Cameroonian band known for a mellow pop version of the bikutsi dance music. ... This article is about the year. ...

Jean-Marie Ahanda became the most influential bikutsi performer of the late 80s, and he revolutionized the genre in 1987 after forming Les Têtes Brulées, whose success changed the Cameroonian music industry. The band played an extremely popular form of bikutsi that allowed for greater depth and diversity. Guitarist Zanzibar added foam rubber to the bridge of his guitar, which made the instrument sound more like a balafon than before, and was more aggressive and innovative than previous musicians. Les Têtes Brulées emerged as a reaction against pop-makossa, which was seen as abandoning its roots in favor of mainstream success. The band's image was part of its success, and they became known for their shaved heads and multi-colored body painting, done to represent traditional Beti scarification, as well as torn t-shirts that implied a common folkness in contrast to the well-styled pop-makossa performers of the period. They also wore backpacks on stage, a reference to Beti women's traditional method of carrying babies while they danced bikutsi. Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

It took only a few weeks for Les Têtes Brulées to knock makossa off the Cameroonian charts, and the band even toured France. While in France, Les Têtes Brulées recorded their first LP, Hot Heads, which was also the first bikutsi music recorded for the CD. Hot Heads expanded the lyrical format of the genre to include socio-political issues. Tours of Japan, Africa, Europe and the United States followed, as well as Claire Denis' film Man No Run, which used footage from their European tour. CD redirects here. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Claire Denis (born April 21, 1948) is a French filmmaker internationally known for her investigation of the human condition with its cross-cultural tensions and family troubles. ...

1990s

In the 1990s, both makossa and bikutsi declined in popularity as a new wave of genres entered mainstream audiences. These included Congolese-influenced new rumba and makossa-soukous, as well as more native forms like bantowbol, northern Cameroonian nganja (which had gained some popularity in the United Kingdom in the mid-80s) and an urban street music called bend-skin. For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Describing the music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is difficult, due to vagaries surrounding the meanings of various terms. ... Bantowbol is a centre and south traditionnal music. ... Bend-skin (bend shin) is a kind of urban Cameroonian popular music. ...

Les Têtes Brulées remained the country's most well-known musical export, especially after accompanying the Cameroonian soccer team to the World Cup in 1990 in Italy and 1994 in the United States. A new wave of bikutsi artists arose in the early 190s, including Les Martiens (formed by Les Têtes Brulées bassist Atebass) and the sexually themed roots singer Katino Ateba ("Ascenseur: le secret de l'homme") and Douala singer Sissi Dipoko ("Bikut-si Hit") as well as a resurgence of old performers like Sala Bekono. Bikutsi's international renown continued to grow, and the song "Proof" from Paul Simon's Rhythm of the Saints, released to mainstream promotion and success in 1990, gained yet more renown from international audiences. Vincent Nguini also contributed guitar arrangements and performance to Simon's Rhythm of the Saints, which became an influential world music album, introducing many North American listeners to the wide range of instrumentation and genres. Soccer redirects here. ... The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which has been awarded to the world champions since 1974. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, half of the folk-singing duo Simon and Garfunkel who continues a successful solo career. ... The Rhythm of the Saints is an album released in 1990 by Paul Simon. ... World music is, most generally, all the music in the world. ...

In 1993, the Pedalé movement was born as a reaction to the Cameroonian economic slump. Youthful artists like Gibraltar Drakuss, Zele le Bombardier, Eboue Chaleur, Pasto, Roger Bekono, Mbarga Soukous and Saint-Desiré Atango was a return to the aggressive, earthy sound of bikutsi roots. Meanwhile Henri Dikongué, whose music incorporated, amongst others, bikutsi and makossa, began to release albums which met international success. He went on to tour Europe and North America. The most recent form of Cameroonian popular music is a fusion of Congolese soukous and makossa, a scene which has produced Petit Pays, Kotto Bass, Papillon and Jean Pierre Essome. Other popular genres include tchamassi, mangambeu and makassi. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Pasto is the capital of the department of Nariño, located in southwest Colombia. ... Henri Dikongué is a Cameroonian singer and guitarist. ... // Soukous is a musical genre that originated in the Congos during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa. ... Petit-Pays is a Cameroonian makossa musician. ... Paperback book cover for Papillon. ... Jean Pierre Essome is a Cameroonian musician and actor. ... Mangambeu is a popular musical style of the Bangangte people of Cameroon. ... Makossa is a type of music which is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. ...

References

• Nkolo, Jean-Victor and Graeme Ewens. "Music of a Small Continent". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 440-447. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0

External links

• a history of bikutsi