Diboué Black
Encyclopedia
Ebenezer Diboué Black is a singer, composer
and musical producer from Cameroon
. He is also a songwriter
, and performs his songs in French
and Duala
. His repertoire is mainly makossa
and zouk
. He is considered the pioneer of the "Makossa-Consciousness" style, which name has probably been derived from the title of his latest album entitled Positive Consciousness (released in 2003).
in Cameroon
in the residential area of Akwa.
At the age of ten he was nicknamed Mevio after the companion of the singer James Brown
because he knew Brown's repertoire by heart.
In 1980-1982, he performed with various amateur bands and his talent was noticed by fellow musicians. In 1983, he composed his first romantic song: Mbodji (a flower in Duala
).
In 1984, he arrived in France to continue his studies and his musical career. His first album, It's not serious, was released in 1988, and was rather short (comprised five songs) It was far from being a commercial success. Diboué kept working and writing songs. His next album appeared in 1989, it was titled The roses of life, and was released by Sonodisc. His third album, Wake-up Africa, was released by Socadisc after a long interval, in 1996. This album is a mixture of genres, ranging from zouk to blues
. His fourth album, Africa fiesta, was released by Wagram Music. One of the songs from that album, Jump Africa, became a hit.
His latest album, Positive Consciousness, was released by Melodie in 2003. In the recent years, he became a musical producer helping aspiring African musicians to get their songs recorded. He is also known as Le LIMA (Le Lion Indomptable de la Musique Africaine, i.e. Indomitable Lion of African music).
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musical producer from 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...
. He is also a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and performs his songs in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Duala
Duala language
Duala is the language spoken by the Duala people of Cameroon. The language belonges to the Bantu language family, and a subgroup of it called the Duala languages...
. His repertoire is mainly 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...
and zouk
Zouk
Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe & Martinique. Zouk means "party" or "festival" in the local Antillean Creole of French, although the word originally referred to, and is still used to refer to, a popular dance, based on the Polish dance, the...
. He is considered the pioneer of the "Makossa-Consciousness" style, which name has probably been derived from the title of his latest album entitled Positive Consciousness (released in 2003).
Biography
Ebenezer Diboué Mpondo Black was born on 16 July 1967 in DoualaDouala
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...
in 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...
in the residential area of Akwa.
At the age of ten he was nicknamed Mevio after the companion of the singer James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
because he knew Brown's repertoire by heart.
In 1980-1982, he performed with various amateur bands and his talent was noticed by fellow musicians. In 1983, he composed his first romantic song: Mbodji (a flower in Duala
Duala
Duala or Douala can refer to:* Duala people, an ethnic group in Cameroon* Duala language, part of the Bantu languages* Douala, the largest city in Cameroon, founded by the Duala people...
).
In 1984, he arrived in France to continue his studies and his musical career. His first album, It's not serious, was released in 1988, and was rather short (comprised five songs) It was far from being a commercial success. Diboué kept working and writing songs. His next album appeared in 1989, it was titled The roses of life, and was released by Sonodisc. His third album, Wake-up Africa, was released by Socadisc after a long interval, in 1996. This album is a mixture of genres, ranging from zouk to blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
. His fourth album, Africa fiesta, was released by Wagram Music. One of the songs from that album, Jump Africa, became a hit.
His latest album, Positive Consciousness, was released by Melodie in 2003. In the recent years, he became a musical producer helping aspiring African musicians to get their songs recorded. He is also known as Le LIMA (Le Lion Indomptable de la Musique Africaine, i.e. Indomitable Lion of African music).
Discography
- 1988 : It's not Serious (Volume)
- 1989 : The Roses of Life (Sonodisc)
- 1996 : Wake up Africa (Socadisc)
- 2000 : Africa Fiesta (Wagram Music)
- 2003 : Positive Consciousness (Melodie)
Compilations
- 1995 : Cameroon Connection (Sonodisc-TJR)
- 1996 : Afric Panache (Sonodisc-TJR)
- 1998 : Tropical Fever (Wagram Music / Epssy Record)
- 1999 : African Dance Beat Volume I (Bell Hammer Musik / Germany)
- 2000 : My Evening Zouk (Universal Music)
- 2000 : Mega Africa (Wagram Music)
- 2002 - 2003 : Africa All Stars Volume I and II (EMI-Virgin)
- 2004: Tropical Heat (Sony BMG)
- 2007: African Dance Beat Volume II (Hammer Musik-Germany)