My Top Ten Cameroonian Musicians

There is something about Richard Bona's cultural content which appears to reenergise my being after hours of soaking myself in intense reading. My favourite of his songs is 'Muntula Moto' the (benediction of a long life). Not only has his genre (bonatology) gone international; it has also made me realise that art can be appreciated through various forms. His music is mostly song in 'duala'  a language used by a fragment of the population of Cameroon, but then, people are not interested in the meaning of the song, but in the jazziness of the content-they rely on their ears to enjoy this formidable musical force which emerges from Cameroon. Some of the songs he sings can be quite relaxing. His sort of music is ageless and I want to think he understands the concept of going global: a move which is pretty much absent with African music because they are usually targeted for a proximate audience. Usually, this audience is small, and impacts on the benefits they can obtain from their small number of fans. To go global, artists must must refrain from thinking within local parameters; they must stretch their contents to capture a broader audience. That would imply more 'ching chings' getting into their pockets.

Belka Tobis-who does not like the meanings he loads in his music? Try to listen to Femme Marie' (Married Woman); the lyrics are jammed with insights on life- Je sais bien que l'amour ne ce partage pas...je sais bien que les hommes ne ce faite pas comme l'argent.....mu nu gu ...maybe, its just the otherness of the language that makes me love this song so much. It is the truth embedded in the words that I feel so much passion for it.

Henri Dikongue

Manu Dibango

Anne Marie Nzie

Grace Decca

Andy Allo

Charlotte Dipanda

Longue Longue

.Chakara posted on soundcloud by Elad

https://soundcloud.com/day2713/chakara-mp3 This genre is very contemporary within Western Africa especially in Nigeria, and spreading its tentacles through to central Africa, particularly, English speaking regions of Cameroon. Well, the lyrics will appeal to the age-young adolescents. I've gone past the age of being excited about being in love. What a joy!