Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Longue Longue

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Longuè Longuè
(Cameroon)

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Longuè Longuè (Longuè means life) is one of the latest stars in Cameroon since his huge hit « Ayo Africa » in 2001. After a difficult youth, where he lost his mother when he was still a child and he had to live with his uncle in Yabassi, he eventually ended up in the streets of Bessengue neigbourhood in Douala. Simon Longkana, as his real name is, was disappointed that he hadn't much to expect from his family, but didn't want to stay in the street and struggled to proof that he was able to reach a goal he had set for himself. He built a guitar and a drum kit from recycled materials and started singing in bars in popular areas of Douala and Yaounde. During that period, he had played with Sergeo Polo and Belka Tobis.

Eventually, producer Prince Eyango, who has a good nose for new talents, showed interest and produced his first album « Ayo Africa » which became an enormous success in Cameroon, because people appreciated his lyrics addressing hot issues such as the economic domination and exploitation by the West. He thus earned the nickname of Le Libérateur.
Two years later, the follow-up album « Privatisation » has the difficult task of living up to the expectations of the public. The album, with a cover version of « Crise économique », orginally from Gabon's Hilarion Nguema, had a slow start in Cameroon, but in the end one song « Demander à Dieu » gained popularity on Cameroon's dancefloors.

Musicians on Privatisation:
Bisou Bass (Christian Bang) bass
Eric Sefu solo guitar (1, 3, 4, 6)
Dally Kimoko solo guitar (2, 5)
Mouasso Elame & Jimmy Njoume Eitel rhythm guitar
Conti-Bilong caisse claire
Nkono Telex keyboards et programming
36-15 Code Niawu percussion (1, 2, 4)
Monique Moka, Joly Priso, Bill-M & Eric Penda backing vocals

Born: 1973, in Douala as Simon Longkana Agno
Style: Makossa

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Le libérateur libéré	2006
Privatisation	2003	Preya Music / Sonima SM 1458
Ayo Africa	2001	Preya Music 0012