The Classic vs The Modern: 2 Cameroonian Mix Tapes

Not all Cameroonian artists - but some serious classics!

Classics -- by classics I mean music and artists that cut through every generation here in Cameroon. In addition to hearing this music being playing in a taxi, at weddings, at funerals, in the night club and at local bars and you also see the young and the old signing and grooving along to these catchy beats. If you like what you hear, I encourage you to check out more of their music via YouTube or iTunes. 

1. Cameroonian Mix Tape (The Classics)

1. Toma Me - Charlotte Dipanda
2. C'est La Vie - Henri Dikongue
3. Muntula Moto - Richard Bona
4. Aye Africa - Manu Dibango 
5. Ganger Ganger - Petite Pays (This song is sung at football matches all the time! Especially the chorus which is sung when Cameroon scored a goal!!) 
6. Amour et Folie - Lady Ponce
7. Topé Malangui Bodé - Baka Beyond
8. To Ndje - Kaïssa
9. Na Ye - Richard Bona, Lisanga Gerald Toto and Lokua Kanza (Yes, technically the second two artists are not Cameroonian, but RB is, and he is amazing and this is personally my favorite song he has done!)
10. Africa - Henri Dikongue
11. Soul Makossa - Manu Dibango
12. Dikom lam la moto - Charlotte Mbango
13. Amour et Passion - Sergeo Polo and Nono Flavy
14. Oke Mado - Kotto Bass 
15. Ayo Africa - Longue Longue*
16. Constitution Constipée - Laprio de Mbanga* (This is actually the song that got him locked up *see note below)

*The last two artists are particularly of interest to me (and maybe you too) because of their courageous and inspiring lyrics. Both of these artists have spoken out about Paul Biya, the President of Cameroon who has been in power for more than 3 decades and both of them have also been imprisoned and forced to seek asylum out of their country. Bravo to them both.

The Modern music of Cameroon has really taken off in the last couple of years. With literally hundreds of young, hip emerging artists it was pretty difficult picking this list. Not to mention, the majority of 'club music' comes from Nigeria not Cameroon.

2. Cameroonian Mix Tape (Modern/Hip Hop)

1. Ebangha - Steveslil (Yes, I am biased because I am in the music video (see photo above) but it is a chart topping  hit and Steve's voice makes you want to melt. Plus, I know him -- and he's a great guy!)
2. B.A.S.T.A.R.D - Jovi ft Reniss (This guy's lyrics are unreal. He mixes English, with Pidgin English, with French, with Franc-Anglais (sort of like French Pidgin) and even several local dialects. Even me, someone who speaks Pidgin fairly well cannot understand his Mboko Pidgin...which is the really deep Pidgin coined by Laprio de Mbanga)
3. Hein Pere - Stanley Enow (This song has actually been being played 24/7 for the last 6-8 months and is finally starting to slightly lose it's popularity. Additionally, only the coolest kids are representing the song by wearing shirts that read "On Est Heir Pere"
4. Thursday Night - Fluri Boys (This is another song that plays ALL the time!)
5. Kumba Market - Magasc
6. Banye aka Banso boy - Chorko
7. Kaki Mbere - Gasha (I have a friend here who used to own a cyber in Buea next to the University. He told me that this girl used to frequent the cyber and often times ask for dash [free] when using the internet..it's nice to see "regular" people make it big.)
8. Don fo Kwat - Jovi (His first and arguably his biggest hit!)
9. MAALHOX - La Biere c'est Combien iCi
10. Njoka - BJ (BJ was my friend before I even knew he was an artist. He co-owns a really popular shisha bar in Buea, Skylight, and that is actually how and where I met him. Then, my housemate at the time Monica saw him preform live and she ran home to tell me... njoka in Pidgin means to enjoy life or to party.) 
11.  Monika - Denzyl

 Remember -- If you like any of these artists, check out more of their music. Cameroon has some serious talent!!

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My blog will be silent for the next couple of weeks as I will be traveling. Serious epic traveling.
First we will be driving along the Ring Road which is just North of Bamaneda in the Northwest Regoin
After reaching Kumbo, we will head to Baffoussam to start a 5 day adventure in the West Region.
Then, onto Douala and to Yaounde wherewe will bus to Bertoua in the East. Yes the East, the most untouched region in the country!!
From Bertoua we will attempt to get to the Dja Reserve where envision trekking through the rainforests of the Congo Baison while encountering endless wildlife and visiting Baka (a Pigmy Tribe) villages along the way.