TIPTOPSTARS

Until now, many people believed that Obam Joel and Ada Siméone were remote village farmers in the South Province of Cameroon, regurgitating some old-time folkloric tune. But the Ngbwa’ak afub duos are just young people, based in Douala where they are fuelling the flames of folklore, thanks to Rocher Jazz Band de Mezesse. The group has no doubt consolidated its front seat position on board the country’s music train for quite some time now. Say Ngbwa’ak afub is on every lip, you are not wrong!

 “Ngbwa’ak afub was incubated for three years, during which time, no one of us went to bed,” says Obam, 23, the male lead singer. To female lead singer, Ada, 23, Ngbwa’ak afub is the century’s dream. “But I was confident it was going to be explosive, given the quality of work done,” she explains.

If this memorable folkloric hit is a piece of entertainment to music fans, Ngbwa’ak afub is a heavy load its authors would henceforth learn to carry. “The public now looks up to us for the rebirth of Cameroonian music at a time Western brands have infested our market,” says Ada, also a hair-dresser. “This means we have to maintain an upward trend, defying all odds in the process,” Obam adds.

This may not be the only challenge for the rising artistes. Fame has suddenly become another hot potato and they have been raised to the status of “Faroteurs” (a common jargon for people who display their financial largesse publicly). “I keep criss-crossing Douala neighbourhoods to eschew suffocating crowds,” Obam, who is also a brick layer, confesses. Says Ada: “Little children run behind me, chanting Ngbwa’ak afub each time I pass by.”

Obam and Ada are a result of childhood passion for music, with experience tapped from choral groups back in Sangmelima and Mvenda respectively. “This is where we trained our voices,” says Obam.

Today, Rocher Jazz Band de Mezesse is credited for not only rekindling folklore, but reviving youths’ love for Cameroonian music. This is thanks to Africatone, a Douala-based music house and its GM, David Mengue who is an ardent promoter of culture and composer of Ngbwa’ak afub.