Elizabeth Bessem Ayamo Manga (c. 1951 – July 1, 2011), also known as Bébé Manga, was a Cameroon

Cameroon

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...

ian makossa

Makossa

Makossa is a type of music that is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. It is similar to soukous, except that it includes strong bass rhythm and a prominent horn section. Makossa, which means " dance" in Duala, originated from a type of Duala dance called kossa, with significant influences...

 singer whose best-known song is "Ami O". She is considered one of the most popular makossa

Makossa

Makossa is a type of music that is most popular in urban areas in Cameroon. It is similar to soukous, except that it includes strong bass rhythm and a prominent horn section. Makossa, which means " dance" in Duala, originated from a type of Duala dance called kossa, with significant influences...

 singers of the 1980s.

She was born In Mamfe

Mamfe

Mamfe is a city and capital of the Manyu department of the Southwest Province in Cameroon. It is located from the border of Nigeria, on the Manyu River. It has a population of 20,300 . It is known as a centre for traditional religion and traditional medicine...

, Manyu Division

Manyu (department)

Manyu is a department of Southwest Province in Cameroon. The division covers an area of 9,565 km² and as of 2009 had a total population of 398,000.The capital of Manyu lies at Mamfe.-Sub-divisions:...

 the South West Region.

Bebe Manga was baptised by the journalists in Ivory Coast because of her so special voice. She started her career in 1975, singing in a night club in Abidjan

Abidjan

Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...

, Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire

The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...

 called "Son de Guitare" (Sound of a guitar). Here she discovered, and recorded her most known hit, "Ami o", her interpretation of an original song written by Ebanda Manfred. The song was an international hit.

Later, end of 90's, she puts another world-class song, "Mota Benamaa", deploring the situation of children suffering around the world. Her talents were celebrated at the Top D'Or 2005 in Abidjan, as she was voted one of the best African artists of all time.

She is featured on Manu Dibango

Manu Dibango

-External links:*...

's "Manu Safari" album.

Bébé Manga died on 1st July 2011 on the way to hospital after suffering a heart attack at her home in Douala

Douala

Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...

. She was 60 .

External links

• [ Allmusic profile]