The Music of Cameroon

Cameroon has a great variety of pop music. In clubs, you can hear acoustic music with the easy listening accapella style of Bobby McFerrin, or recordings of the latest electronic Afropop music from Ivory Coast and the Congo. In bus stations, gospel music from Nigeria wafts out from large speakers. In the markets, you can buy counterfeit CDs with old hits from Madonna, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston. But it is rare to hear raunchy hip hop music.

Here are samples of the music styles you are likely to hear in Cameroon.

Makossa is the most popular style of music in Cameroon. San Fan Thomas produced many "golden oldies" popular in the 1970s. My favorite song on this album is "Sabine." Listen To Makassi

Bikutsi has a catchy beat. The song "Beza Ba Dzo" by Anne Marie Nze captures its joie de vivre. Listen To Beza Ba Dzo

Acoustic guitar and soft songs is what I heard when I went to night clubs for live music. Here's an example of this type of music, which seems to be inspired by many evenings seducing beautiful French girls. Listen To Wa

Coupee de Kale music is from the Ivory Coast and it is extremely popular in Cameroon. The song "atchimon" capture the classic syncopated beat of the snare drum: Listen To La Rénovation (Pays de Joie)

Soukous is another popular music style originally from Congo (Zaire). I used to hate the unending cheerfulness of this music, but now I can not get enough of it, especially the song "Lagos night/Sweet Mother." Listen To Megamix, Vol. 1

Congolese Rumba is a mellow version of soukous mixed with the subtle rhythms of Cuba. Listen To Bayekeleye

Zouk music is very popular for dancing slow and close. This music is from the French West Indies in the Caribbean and has crossed the Atlantic to romance and entrance people all over West Africa. Listen To Lune . . . . De Miel . . .

Comments

[Jakeukalane]

Hello from Spain!! This is a great blog. You have discovered me many things of Comeroon music that i didn't know.

Thank you for this and keep in that way!!!

Congratulations for the blog and greetings