African Healing Dance

Jacky Essombe

M A K O S S A

A Powerful Ingredient

Makossa does not lend itself easily to a square description. It is some kind of "du-dum" on the bass, or an elusive "taa-tak" on the drums; it is also a charming series of steps in a triangle called "three-point", with an endearing wink of the eye. It is… One would have to have lived in Cameroon for many years, to understand. Cameroonians use a certain word from the Douala tribe and language to describe the general feeling that arises from the Makossa experience: "Loko". The word sums up a lot of the characteristics felt with Makossa…pride, sophistication, style, the desire to be unique, sharpness, elegance, playfulness, tease, charm…etc

Makossa has already gone beyond the boundaries of Cameroon to enrich the lives of many other people. The world has been touched by the "Zouk" groove, a rhythm from the French Islands of Martinique Guadeloupe. Few people however know the genesis of Zouk that was popularized by a Parisian based group called Kassav.
By the late seventies, many professional Cameroonian musicians had re-established themselves in Paris. The high demand for bass players and drummers from Cameroon had contributed to the exodus. There were several recording studios where these musicians enjoyed getting together to work.
In one of those studios, Jacob Desvarieux who was one of the founders of Kassav had a job as a sound engineer. An accomplished guitar player himself, working in that studio was a good way to supplement his income. When I personally got to Paris in 1981, that studio was very popular and I had the opportunity to meet with Desvarieux on several occasions. In fact, many musicians from Africa, Martinique Guadeloupe converged there. Jacob Desvarieux was very fond of the Makossa tunes he was helping record day in and day out, doing some occasional guitar overdubs.
With some of his buddies, he put together Kassav as an experimental group to play the "Beguine" from his country to which the flavor of the Makossa groove was added. The keyboard player was Mbida Douglas, a great longtime professional from Cameroon. This was the beginning of a wonderful experimentation that resulted, several years later in the big hit with Kassav all over the world. Jean-Claude Naimro from Martinique, another veteran musician who had discovered the Cameroonian music and indeed had worked with so many Cameroonian artists, later replaced Mbida Douglas. Naimro was always well loved for his sensitivity and understanding of the groove.
There must also be made a mention of a great talented guitarist from Norway who was introduced to the Cameroonian public by Manu Dibango in the same time period, a gentleman named Slim Pezzin. He too fell in love with Makossa and subsequently produced two Cameroonian Artists Ekambi Brillant and Pierre Didi Tchakounté…big hits! There too, we had a very sensitive and talented musician who was able to play Makossa as a Cameroonian would. Well loved, he too was.

Makossa is an interesting phenomenon that will definitely continue to be developed, gathering more and more friends all around the world. These men and women would have voluntarily submitted to the irresistible spell of… Loko!

Jean-Pierre Simons

© 2003

An Excellent Idea

It was strongly suggested to me by a couple of friends to get "Turquoise" published as a novel or novelette. I had thought of compiling all the episodes at some point and have them published. But I found the idea suggested to be more exciting and challenging. I will be working in that direction. So, this 12th episode of "Turquoise" is the last I will publish in my Newsletter.

I will quietly continue to write the story until its completion. The past episodes will be re-written, so as to include some details that I had left aside in order to make things fit the format of the Newsletter.

When the novel is ready, or is published, you will of course, be the first to know about it. In the meantime, the past episodes written will remain posted as usual.

I thank you for your support. Your suggestions are welcome, as always.

Amicalement,

Jean-Pierre Simons.

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I Recommend...

• Eboa Lotin
• Ekambi Brillant

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