This Norman duo mixes the rhythms of Cameroon with a robust rock. In a stripping first album, Elektrik Makossa, Bafang affords music made to tune lengthy winter nights. If we in all probability have to attend earlier than we see them on stage, presentation of a gaggle that’s already far behind.
In rock historical past, duets have at all times had a particular place. From sparks to white stripes, together with Rita Mitsouko in France, they had been pressured to play numbers to make music usually instantly. If he differs very a lot from these teams, Bafang is a part of the identical alchemy. On the one hand there may be Enguerran Harre, 36, on drums, and however Lancelot Harre, 33, on guitar, half-brothers raised as “brothers” who combine highly effective rock with rhythms from Cameroon.
Their first album, Elektrik Makossa, affords a dancing and funky fusion. The title is a nod to Manu Dibango’s Soul Makossa. What are the culprits “Papa Groove”, who died in March final yr? “Our piece Worldwide Makossa is a thanks to Manu Dibango and every thing he did by popularizing this sort of dance that’s makossa, Enguerran ensures. Our combine was utterly pure. We tried to not suppose an excessive amount of.” “In our earlier teams we had “already finished rhythm’n’blues, rock, just a little funk and African music. However each time, every thing was separate. Right here we had been within the completely different registers”, Lancelot continues.
Unifying music
For this primary album, the 2 musicians who come from Caen in Normandy went to seek out rhythms in Cameroon. It’s in a Bamiléké land filled with forests and crimson soil, positioned about 300 kilometers west of Yaoundé, that they’ve a part of their household.
Additionally they derive a lot of their musical essence from it, as it’s within the Bamileke language that they largely sing. “There, folks sing extra in douala, as a result of there may be quite a lot of a and o. With bamiléké, there are some extra guttural sounds. It is just a little extra difficult. It was a small problem to name it,” says Lancelot.
The energetic Bamileke nation is speaking a couple of return to its roots. By liberating, it might be a dreamland the place peace, prosperity and brotherhood prevail among the many folks. The thought is once more to maneuver the our bodies and sing the viewers.
That is what Ibabemba carries specifically, a track that has turn out to be “their anthem.” “Ibabemba is solely a visit to Cameroon. Within the track we quote greater than twenty cities within the nation: Yaoundé, Douala, Bafoussam, Bamenda … Within the preface we additionally say: ‘Consideration, Mami Wata!’ In West Africa, Mami Wata is a bit like mermaids, a deity who embodies vice “, reminds Enguerran.
Their Njounjou dance is a dance in opposition to the evil spirit in an afro-beat rhythm. We will remorse the repeated facet of this submit, the absence of full and unfastened. However the final piece sung in dialectal Arabic, Essaouira, offers the spirit.
Composed round a guembri and qraqeb, gnaoua’s percussion, it contrasts with this touring music the place we additionally learn the affect of Tuareg guitar. With the headband on his head and sun shades, Enguerran Harre arouses the creativeness of teams corresponding to Tinariwen, Tamikrest or Kel Assouf. “I really like the desert blues. Cheche is a celebration. However I’d have a tough time enjoying with out it,” the drummer assures.
A stage group
Bafang’s music is primarily designed to dwell on stage. “Once we do a live performance, we are saying we’re going to set the stage. After some time, the general public and us on stage have to be one,” Enguerran continues. In live performance, the 2 boys should even be bodily shut to one another.
For instance, once they opened the Beauregard Competition on July 6, 2018, they requested the technical crew to put the drums on the principle stage and never increase them in order that they felt their mutual presence.
The 2 of their thirties, former members of an offended band, Ashes Warriors, have been creating music collectively for over twenty years. They labored in a short time with a duo that has solely been round for 2 and a half years. Firstly of the college yr, they starred in a musical, The Animal Kingdom, directed by Elise Vigier and Martial Di Fonzo Bo, directed by Comédie de Caen.
Between the 2 inclusions, this musical expertise for the theater was nice information. “We now have an excellent chortle about it. It is about creating atmospheres. It is nearly like we made movie music. We’re on the service of historical past,” says Lancelot.
If Covid-19 permits it, it is going to be through the first half of 2021 that we will discover our two brothers of their pure aspect, a live performance corridor. Additionally they dream of touring in Africa and enjoying … in Bafang, the town of Cameroon from which they borrowed their title.
Bafang Elektrik Makossa (Soulbeats Information / M’A Prod) 2020Facebook / Instagram
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