Golden Sounds
Encyclopedia
Golden Sounds or Zangalewa is a makossa
group from Cameroon
. It was led by a career member of Cameroon's presidential guard, Jean Paul Zé Bella. The men in the group provided comical musical entertainment, often dressing in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with pillows to appear like they had swollen bottoms from riding the train and fat stomachs from eating too much. The band is most famous for its song, Zangalewa
, which was a huge hit in Africa since its release in 1986. The song was also popular in Colombia where it was known as "The Military" and brought to the country by West African DJs. The song made their band so popular that they later changed the name of their group to Zangalewa, which means "Where are you from?". In 2010 Shakira's
collaboration with Freshlyground
for the 2010 World Cup, produced the song "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)
" as a tribute to African Music.
Jean Paul ze Bella has since retired from the presidential guard in 2002 after 30 years of service but his song stands as an icon of Cameroonian military history.
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...
group 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...
. It was led by a career member of Cameroon's presidential guard, Jean Paul Zé Bella. The men in the group provided comical musical entertainment, often dressing in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with pillows to appear like they had swollen bottoms from riding the train and fat stomachs from eating too much. The band is most famous for its song, Zangalewa
Zamina mina (Zangalewa)
Tsamina or Zangaléwa is a 1986 hit song, originally sung by a makossa group from Cameroon called Golden Sounds who were beloved throughout the continent for the dances and costumes. The song was such a hit for Golden Sounds that they eventually changed their name to Zangaléwa, too. The song pays...
, which was a huge hit in Africa since its release in 1986. The song was also popular in Colombia where it was known as "The Military" and brought to the country by West African DJs. The song made their band so popular that they later changed the name of their group to Zangalewa, which means "Where are you from?". In 2010 Shakira's
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
collaboration with Freshlyground
Freshlyground
Freshlyground is a South African Afro-fusion band that formed in Cape Town in 2002. The band members variously hail from South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe...
for the 2010 World Cup, produced the song "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
"Waka Waka " is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, featuring South African band Freshlyground. It was the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, along with its Spanish language version, entitled "Waka Waka "...
" as a tribute to African Music.
Jean Paul ze Bella has since retired from the presidential guard in 2002 after 30 years of service but his song stands as an icon of Cameroonian military history.