TIPTOPSTARS

Ernest Kanjo / ••Thursday•, 19 •November• 2009 15:01•

BAAM Akum Adele-Claris, Chah Mabel and Ewah Lawrence are undoubtedly one of Cameroon's most prominent music trio on the international scene currently. The three sing for BAAM, a Buea-based WAB (World/Afro beats) group, created three years ago. BAAM is Cameroon's eye on one of the world's leading music TV channels, TRACE. TRACE broadcasts from Paris, France.

For a couple of months now, music lovers world-wide have been savouring Stand Up, BAAM's video single, recorded in Paris and produced by TRACE and NESTLE. This is fallout from the international Nescafe song competition from which BAAM sprang in 2007. The Cameroonian group did not only emerge champions at the competition, but scored an overwhelming victory over their opponents, especially Nigeria. That was Abidjan in 2007. BAAM's two winning tracks, Arise Africa and Paddy Man (Nescafe song) held Abidjan spellbound, but Stand Up was going to be BAAM's dawn.

"For seven days in a Parisian studio, we worked, tirelessly with Wayne Beckford, who was hired to put us through," Larry told us in Buea recently. Apart from producing RnB icons, Akon and Kanye West, Beckford has brought up several other European and American artistes. "It was a dream come true working with him and we were very proud of that," said Mabel. "To Beckford, we were his children and he quickly fell in love with our performance," she continued. The renowned music Akon's producer could not hide his feelings about Larry. "Give me three months with Larry, I'll blow the world," he said of the Buea-based BAAM's lone male singer.

A few weeks after BAAM rounded off at the Studio de L'Armée, Palais de Congrès in Paris, Stand up hit TRACE. The explosion that has followed can only be compared to that of the beautiful piece itself. Buea, Cameroon, Africa and the world have gotten up to embrace what is now rated as one of the best clips on the popular entertainment channel. "People are surprised to see us around Buea, they think BAAM is an American group," said Adele. Larry said: "When I walk along the street, some hail me, others argue it is not the guy on TRACE." "But they are all excited," he added.

Elsewhere, the reaction has been the same. "We've been receiving calls from beyond Cameroon, congratulating us on the great job," Mabel explained.

But what explains your success? "God!" the three said at once. "We are also indebted to Emile Ngumbah and the Buea-based M ONE music studio where we were groomed as back-up singers," Mabel told us. "It's also hard work, determination and drive that put us on the rail," she said further. BAAM also believes that the support from other Buea-based artistes has been instrumental to their success. "Our relationship with them has been very cordial," said Adele.

BAAM's maiden album is also an explosion as well comprising songs like Dance to My Culture, Wind, Break and Twist, BAAM Prayer, Bounce to This, Be Strong and Arise Africa. Interestingly, Stand Up is also broadcast on MTV Base, Channel O and Africa Magic. "We are eyeing MTV and working hard to sweep all the international awards," they said with much confidence.

LATEST COMMENTS

Well, I think the CEA was a very shallow and misgu... More...
This is creativity we are talking about, this are ... More...
Lovelyn,your pre-selection criterias are ok but i'... More...
camhood 4 the better More...
fame is gd More...
CONGRATULATION. THANK GOD FOR YOU GUYS. CAMEROON S... More...
cool girls dat was great but this year we the cons... More...

Popular Articles

•Profile Information•

Application afterLoad: 0.000 seconds, 0.41 MB

Application afterInitialise: 0.029 seconds, 2.88 MB

Application afterRoute: 0.035 seconds, 3.57 MB

Application afterDispatch: 0.095 seconds, 6.96 MB

Application afterRender: 0.164 seconds, 8.16 MB

•Memory Usage•

8632184

•26 queries logged•

SELECT *
FROM jos_session
WHERE session_id = 'rhk1qbm7jhqrr3k2prg6g1b421'
DELETE
FROM jos_session
WHERE ( TIME < '1777280898' )
SELECT *
FROM jos_session
WHERE session_id = 'rhk1qbm7jhqrr3k2prg6g1b421'
INSERT INTO `jos_session` ( `session_id`,`time`,`username`,`gid`,`guest`,`client_id` )
VALUES ( 'rhk1qbm7jhqrr3k2prg6g1b421','1777281798','','0','1','0' )
SELECT *
FROM jos_components
WHERE parent = 0
SELECT folder AS TYPE, element AS name, params
  FROM jos_plugins
  WHERE published >= 1
  AND access <= 0
  ORDER BY ordering
SELECT *
FROM jos_migration_backlinks
WHERE url LIKE 'movies/nollywood-movies/213-baam-cameroons-eye-on-trace.html%' OR sefurl LIKE 'movies/nollywood-movies/213-baam-cameroons-eye-on-trace.html%'
SELECT m.*, c.`option` AS component
  FROM jos_menu AS m
  LEFT JOIN jos_components AS c
  ON m.componentid = c.id
  WHERE m.published = 1
  ORDER BY m.sublevel, m.parent, m.ordering
SELECT *
FROM jos_jcomments_settings
SELECT template
  FROM jos_templates_menu
  WHERE client_id = 0
  AND (menuid = 0 OR menuid = 141)
  ORDER BY menuid DESC
  LIMIT 0, 1
SELECT a.*, u.name AS author, u.usertype, cc.title AS category, s.title AS SECTION, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug, g.name AS groups, s.published AS sec_pub, cc.published AS cat_pub, s.access AS sec_access, cc.access AS cat_access
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  LEFT JOIN jos_sections AS s
  ON s.id = cc.SECTION
  AND s.scope = "content"
  LEFT JOIN jos_users AS u
  ON u.id = a.created_by
  LEFT JOIN jos_groups AS g
  ON a.access = g.id
  WHERE a.id = 213
  AND ( ( a.created_by = 0 ) OR ( a.state = 1
  AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2026-04-27 09:23:18' )
  AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2026-04-27 09:23:18' ) ) OR ( a.state = -1 ) )
UPDATE jos_content
SET hits = ( hits + 1 )
WHERE id='213'
SELECT id
  FROM jos_menu

  WHERE link LIKE '%option=com_search%'

  AND TYPE = 'component'

  AND published = 1
  LIMIT 0, 1
SELECT a.id, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  WHERE a.catid = 15
  AND a.state = 1
  AND a.access <= 0
  AND ( a.state = 1 OR a.state = -1 )
  AND ( publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR publish_up <= '2026-04-27 09:23:18' )
  AND ( publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR publish_down >= '2026-04-27 09:23:18' )
  ORDER BY a.ordering
SELECT id, title, module, POSITION, content, showtitle, control, params
  FROM jos_modules AS m
  LEFT JOIN jos_modules_menu AS mm
  ON mm.moduleid = m.id
  WHERE m.published = 1
  AND m.access <= 0
  AND m.client_id = 0
  AND ( mm.menuid = 141 OR mm.menuid = 0 )
  ORDER BY POSITION, ordering
SELECT m.*, SUM(CASE WHEN p.published=1 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS cnt

  FROM jos_menu AS m

  LEFT JOIN jos_menu AS p
  ON p.parent = m.id

  WHERE m.menutype='mainmenu'
  AND m.published='1'
  AND m.access <= '0'

  GROUP BY m.id
  ORDER BY m.parent, m.ordering
SELECT m.*
  FROM jos_menu AS m

  WHERE menutype='mainmenu'
  AND m.published='1'
SELECT cc.id, cc.userid, cc.comment, cc.name, cc.username, cc.email, cc.DATE, cc.object_id, cc.object_group, '' AS avatar

  FROM jos_jcomments AS cc

  LEFT JOIN jos_content AS c
  ON c.id = cc.object_id

  WHERE cc.published = 1

  AND c.access <= '0'

  AND (c.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR c.publish_up <= '2026-04-27 09:23:18')

  AND (c.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR c.publish_down >= '2026-04-27 09:23:18')

  AND cc.object_group = 'com_content'

  ORDER BY cc.DATE DESC

  LIMIT 7
SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  WHERE a.id = 555
SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  WHERE a.id = 591
SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  WHERE a.id = 575
SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  WHERE a.id = 483
SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  WHERE a.id = 306
SELECT a.id, a.sectionid, a.access, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  WHERE a.id = 386
SELECT a.*, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  INNER JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  INNER JOIN jos_sections AS s
  ON s.id = a.sectionid
  WHERE a.state = 1
  AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2026-04-27 09:23:18' )
  AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2026-04-27 09:23:18' )
  AND s.id > 0
  AND a.access <= 0
  AND cc.access <= 0
  AND s.access <= 0
  AND s.published = 1
  AND cc.published = 1
  ORDER BY a.created DESC
  LIMIT 0, 25
SELECT a.*, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(a.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", a.id, a.alias) ELSE a.id END AS slug, CASE WHEN CHAR_LENGTH(cc.alias) THEN CONCAT_WS(":", cc.id, cc.alias) ELSE cc.id END AS catslug
  FROM jos_content AS a
  LEFT JOIN jos_content_frontpage AS f
  ON f.content_id = a.id
  INNER JOIN jos_categories AS cc
  ON cc.id = a.catid
  INNER JOIN jos_sections AS s
  ON s.id = a.sectionid
  WHERE ( a.state = 1
  AND s.id > 0 )
  AND ( a.publish_up = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_up <= '2026-04-27 09:23:18' )
  AND ( a.publish_down = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' OR a.publish_down >= '2026-04-27 09:23:18' )
  AND a.access <= 0
  AND cc.access <= 0
  AND s.access <= 0
  AND s.published = 1
  AND cc.published = 1
  ORDER BY a.hits DESC
  LIMIT 0, 15

•Language Files Loaded•

/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_system_debug.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.com_jcomments.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.com_content.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.plg_content_pagebreak.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.tpl_tiptopstars.ini
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.mod_facefans.ini
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.mod_jcomments.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.mod_latestnews.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.mod_mostread.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.mod_adsense_joomlaspan_3_ClickSafe.ini
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.mod_breadcrumbs.ini 1
/home/ketrp/public_html/mtdv/language/en-GB/en-GB.mod_search.ini 1

•Untranslated Strings Diagnostic•

•None•

•Untranslated Strings Designer•

•None•