Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Dina Bell

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Dina Bell
(Cameroon)

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Dina Bell is born in a musical family in Douala-Akwa. He grew up in the same city and went to school and college in Akwa. Second son of a family of 7 children, he started singing in a church choir. This interfered with his law study and he soon abandoned university. In 1978, he recorded his first album « Yoma Yoma », released in Cameroon without his approval, while Dina was in France. The album was a considerable success though, and he continued releasing several albums throughout the 1980s. During that decade, he was among the most important makossa singers, with his melodic but pure makossa and his sweet voice.

With the downfall of makossa, Dina Bell's career suffered and the presence of pirated copies of his latest album had a demoralising effect on the artist. He lives the better part of the year in France, and spends the rest in Cameroon. In recent years, he has created a recording studio and he plans to dedicate much of his time to young artists and promote their talents, he will therefore spend more time in Cameroon. In February 2004, he was attacked by four men when coming home late at night. He was brought in hospital with head injuries and a broken arm. After a short coma in a Douala hospital, he recovered quickly.

Check out his MySpace for more information, pictures, audio files, video [link...].

Musicians on the album Mélodies roses:
Dina Bell lead vocals;
Guy Bilong drums, programming, percussion;
Rigo Star guitar;
Syllo Ekwe guitar;
Ambassa Moustique guitar;
Toto Guillaume guitar;
Hilaire Penda bass;
Touré Aladji bass, arrangments;
Jean-Yves Messan bass;
Smith Hallaire percussion;
Phillipe Guez keyboards;
Alain Hatot, Eric Josseran (=Giausserand?), Jacques Bolognesi brass;
Grace Decca, Monique Lesueur, Barbara Akabla, Ndedi Dibango backing vocals.

Born: Charles Dina Ebongue, May 1953, in Douala, Cameroon
Style: makossa

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
The best of Dina Bell Volume 1	2004		CD
Tobo Tobo	2002	Mélodie	CD
Tempête !!!	1999		CD
Silencieusement	1999	Mélodie	CD
The very best of Dina Bell	1997	Mélodie	CD
L'essentiel	1991	Sono/Next Music	CD
Mélodies roses	198?	Haissam Records
Nika na nika		Bazor BAZ040	CD
Etom'Am	198?	Bazor BAZ020	LP
Poko Poko	198?	Bazor	LP
Blow	198?	Bazor	LP
Longè	198?	Bazor	LP
O Si Dia Mba	198?		LP
Mbemb'a Iyo	19??	Ebeny ERI 01	LP
Yoma Yoma	1978		LP