The Doula style of makossa has dominated
Cameroon since the 1960s. With Manu Dibango it reached
international fame. In The early 70s makossa became electrified
with singles cut for nighclubs, in the 80s it became pop
makossa produced in Paris. At the top were singers like
Moni Bile, Moundy Claude "Petit Pays", Bebe
Mange, Ben Decca, Prince Eyango, Douleur and Misse Ngoh.
Sam Fan Thomas whose "African Typic Collection"
made him the biggest name abroad.
In the 90s makossa music
has evolved into the mainstream of African music. Bend-Skin
a recent percussion led folk music by Kouchoum Mbada has
been popular. There is also a makossa / soukous
fusion popularised by Papillon, Petit Pays, the late Kotto
Bass, and new comer Jean Pierre Essome.
Page