Zekuhl
Encyclopedia
Atna Jean Emmanuel Njock, aka Zekuhl, is a singer, guitarist, percussionist and a songwriter of world music
. He presents a Bolbo-Jazz style.
He was born in Quebec City
in 1970 and raised in Cameroon
. His initiation to Cameroonian and Bantu musical traditions, as well as those of the Baka Pygmies who lived near his village of Kaya, began at age four. He masters many Cameroonian musical styles, including the Assiko
, the Bolbo, the Bikutsi
, the Ndin, the Mangambeu, the Bol, the Makossa
, the Mbalè, the Mpeya of the Baka Pygmies.
He is also a Master of the Nkuu (a wooden, cylinder-shaped drum with hollowed-out slits) also known as the African telephone, since it reproduces the sound of spoken language.
Arrived in Montreal
(Quebec
, Canada
) in 1991, he became one of the forerunners of musical diversification in Quebec.
His lyrics are sung in Bàsàa
(a Cameroon language), French
and English
.
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
. He presents a Bolbo-Jazz style.
He was born in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1970 and raised in 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...
. His initiation to Cameroonian and Bantu musical traditions, as well as those of the Baka Pygmies who lived near his village of Kaya, began at age four. He masters many Cameroonian musical styles, including the Assiko
Assiko
The Assiko is a popular dance from the South of Cameroon.Originally based in the Bassa country, this rhythmed dance takes its name from two words: ISI, changed into ASSI, which means earth or ground; and KOO meaning foot....
, the Bolbo, the Bikutsi
Bikutsi
Bikutsi is a musical genre from Cameroon. It developed from the traditional styles of the Beti, or Ewondo, people, who live around the city of Yaounde. It was popular in the middle of the 20th century in West Africa...
, the Ndin, the Mangambeu, the Bol, the Makossa
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...
, the Mbalè, the Mpeya of the Baka Pygmies.
He is also a Master of the Nkuu (a wooden, cylinder-shaped drum with hollowed-out slits) also known as the African telephone, since it reproduces the sound of spoken language.
Arrived in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
(Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) in 1991, he became one of the forerunners of musical diversification in Quebec.
His lyrics are sung in Bàsàa
Bassa
-People:Three unrelated ethnic groups of West Africa:*Bassa ** Basaa language is a member of the Bantu languages family.*Bassa **Bassa language is a member of the Kru languages family.**Bassa script-Places:*Bassa, Kogi State, Nigeria...
(a Cameroon language), French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Discography
- 19921992 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
: Zekuhl - 19971997 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
: Amon - 2011 : I Bolo
Awards
- 2011 : nominated for Canadian Folk Music AwardsCanadian Folk Music AwardsThe Canadian Folk Music Awards are an annual music awards ceremony, presenting awards in a variety of categories for achievements in both traditional and contemporary folk music, and other roots music genres, by Canadian musicians...
«World Solo Artist of the Year» - 2010 : Jean Bikoko Aladin Award (delivered by Cameroonian community figures in Canada)
- 1991 : nominated L'Empire des futures starsL'Empire des futures starsL'Empire des futures stars was an annual contest for new musical bands in the Canadian province of Quebec, sponsored by CKOI-FM in Montreal. Many musical artists used the contest as an effective springboard for their careers.-See also:...
External links
- Official website
- Club Culture: Zekuhl
- African Recording Reviews #5 (several reviews, includes Amon)