Modern Music of Cameroon

The earliest music record of Cameroon came from the 1930s, when the most popular patterns were the imported pop music and French pattern chanson. In Douala, the most established city in Cameroon, accordions and ambasses bey music were rare with the performers such as Lobe Lobe, Ebanda Manfred and nelle Eyoum finding a local audience. The Ekambi Brillant and the first main Cameroonian hit NGon Abo set the stage for the establishment of makossa. The post-independence in 1960 a local variant on palm wine music which is known as assiko was famous especially Jean Bikoko and Dikoume Bernard.

source of picture: www.youtube.com

The civilization of Cameroon has had a major influence on the music of the country. The movement to the city of Yaounde for instant was a major cause for the promotion of bikutsi music. Though, during the 1950’s bars sprang up all over the city to accommodate the arrival of new people and soon became a sign for Cameroonian identity in the face of colonialism. Balafon groups comprising of 3-5 balafons and different drums instruments include the balafon, which is both a harmonic and percussive musical instrument became common in the bars. Some of these groups like Richard Band de Zoetele became quite famous in spite of scorn from the European elite.