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Golden Sounds

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Golden Sounds
Also known asZangaléwa
OriginCameroon
GenresMakossa
Years active1984–c. 2000

Golden Sounds, later known as Zangaléwa, was a makossa group from Cameroon, formed in 1984 by active members of Cameroon's presidential guard: Jean Paul Zé Bella, Dooh Belley, Luc Eyebe and Emile Kojidie. The group is most famous for its song, "Zangaléwa", which was a huge hit in Africa after its release in 1986, and was revived in 2010 when Shakira sampled it for the 2010 FIFA World Cup as Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).

History

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The Golden Sounds originate from the Orchestra of the Republican Guard of Cameroon's Presidency. Four gendarmes from the orchestra 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.[1][2] 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 its band so popular that the band itself later changed the name of the group to Zangaléwa, which means in Ewondo, a Cameroonian language, "Who Called You?" (Za'nga'lowa).[3]

Two civilians, Robert Kero and the female singer Annie Anzouer later joined the group.[1] In 1993, Annie Anzouer was replaced in the lineup by Viviane Etienne.[1] Etienne also left the group afterwards to pursue a solo career.[1] The group also consists of several other supporting members.

The group disbanded around 2000.[4] Jean Paul Ze Bella retired from the presidential guard in 2002 after 30 years of service, but his song stands as an icon of Cameroonian military history.[5][6][7][8] Ze Bella died from cancer on 15 January 2023 at the age of 70.[9]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album[10]
1986 Zangaléwa
1989 Casque Colonial
1991 Caporal Grillé
1995 Yélé-Yélé

Singles

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  • "Zangaléwa" (1986)
  • "Maladie Difficile" (1986)
  • "Un bébé" (1991)

Awards

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Year Award[1]
1986 Record of the Year (Cameroon)
1993 African Record of the Year (URTNA)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Zangalewa Official Site - The band". Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique / Cameroon : Les Golden Sounds". www.musiques-afrique.net. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  3. ^ "Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique / Cameroon : Les Golden Sounds". www.musiques-afrique.net. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  4. ^ Onana, Bertin (12 May 2010). "Cameroun: «Affaire Shakira-Zangalewa»: Un accord a été conclu entre les deux parties". Journal du Cameroun (in French). Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Cameroon - Zangalewa - Zamina - Waka Waka Time for Africa - Original Full Length Version". YouTube. 2008-07-07. Archived from the original on 2010-09-18. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  6. ^ "Did Shakira's World Cup Anthem Miss The Mark? | Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture". Racialicious. 2010-04-30. Archived from the original on 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  7. ^ "Shakira Remixes African Hit for World Cup". The New York Times. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  8. ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  9. ^ Kane, Elsa (18 January 2023). "Cameroun : Nécrologie : Ze Bella, l'un des leaders des Golden Sounds est mort [Cameroon: Obituary: Ze Bella, one of Golden Sounds' leaders is dead]". 237online.com (in French). Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Zangalewa Official Site - Discography". Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
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