TIPTOPSTARS

Ernest Kanjo (USA) - Even in the ecstasy of a hot bowl of fufu corn and khati khati (a traditional delicacy of the people of Kom in the North West region of Cameroon), which the up-and-coming singer confirms is her favourite dish, Leonette Ayeah can always be caught humming, if she is not singing aloud. It would grossly be insignificant to describe music as her passion. Rather, music is an integral part that is staunchly clued to the Bameda-based Afro jazz singer’s life. Young? Yes! Talented? Yes! Scared of huge responsibilities? No! Leonette thrives with ambitions that are so genuine, reason why she thinks she deserve every goodie that comes along with hard work as an artist. She would serve the world with rich songs, acquire fame and win awards/prizes. However, the brilliant singer whose soul-searching voice is now holding her audience spellbound believes in an artist making a livelihood from their works. A financially comfortable posture will definitely be a welcome development in her music life. Yet, the young singer holds humanity at heart and would always love to give back. This preliminary knowledge about the author of Pinky Baby, a currently popular single track set TIPTOPSTARS eager to dig more into Leonette’s garden. Her package cannot be unveiled in just one story. Rather the Afro jazz singer can only be properly unveiled after a month-long dossier. To that effect, Leonette Ayeah became the first young singer TIPTOPSTARS selected as Musician of the Month, in a new slot on the online portal. We got two of our reporters, Ifaana Qualar and Herman Slim, quizzing the 1.6m-tall young musician and deciding to start off with just two questions – the obvious ones.

Ifaana Qualar (IQ) – DOUALA: Leonette, welcome to TIPTOPSTARS!

Leonette Ayeah (LA): Thasnks Ifaana, it’s my pleasure!

IO: How are you today?

LA: I’m alright, we thank God!

IQ: How is your music doing?

LA: As you can see, it’s going places – hahahaha!

IO: No doubts about that, kudos!

LA: Thanks!

IQ: Now, tell us, what inspired you into music?

LA: Music is something which comes from inside. One is normally born with it. That is true in my case. I was born music. Secondly, pain is one of the things that got my singing. Each time I feel pain, I sing and once I do that, I’m relieved.

Herman Slim (HS) - GERMANY: Hi Leonette!

LA: Hello Herman!

HS: What genre of music do you do and why that choice?

LA: Simply Afro jazz. When I started singing, I realized that my voice was unique and more driven towards singing afro, than other brands. But first of all, I have special love for originality. Afro beats are very original in nature and I happen to identify with them. I sing in my mother tongue. My voice is African and I’m typically African. All these put together makes Afro jazz the perfect genre for Leonette – hahahaha!

IQ: Leonette, thank you for accepting us into your music garden, we will be back with you.

LA: Thanks Ifaana, thanks Herman! Looking forward to part two of our talk!

To be continued…