Anne-Marie Nzié
Anne-Marie Nzié | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1932 |
| Died | May 24, 2016 (aged 83–84) |
| Occupation | Bikutsi singer |
Anne-Marie Nzié (1932 – 24 May 2016) was a Cameroonian bikutsi singer.
Biography
Anne-Marie Nzié was born in Bibia,
Nzié remained active over the next five decades and helped to popularise bikutsi throughout Cameroon,[6] as well as singing in festivals in Algiers, Dakar and Lagos, and teaching singing with the National Orchestra of Cameroon.[3] Her long career earned her the epithets "Queen of Cameroonian Music",[6] "Queen Mother of Cameroonian Music",[7] and "Queen Mother of Bikutsi".[8][9]
Nzié was a supporter of both of Cameroon's presidents, Ahmadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya.[10] For example, she dedicated the song "Liberté" to Paul Biya and his Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) political party. In 1992, the Social Democratic Front used the song during John Fru Ndi's presidential campaign; Nzié said that she was "vehemently opposed" to the move.[11] In another incident, student protesters changed the lyrics of the song to say, "Paul Biya go away". Nzié responded by saying that the song was always intended to be pro-Biya and pro-CPDM.[5]
Her successful album Liberté was recorded in 1984, following which Nzié retired to her village.[3] After a long absence, she released the album Béza Ba Dzo in 1999. Coco Mbassi sang backup on the album,[8] and one track featured Manu Dibango on saxophone and vocals.[3]
Anne-Marie Nzié died in a hospital on 24 May 2016, after becoming ill earlier in that month.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Edwin Kindzeka Moki (Associated Press), "The golden voice of Cameroon, Anne Marie Nzie, dies at 84", U.S. News, 25 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Rest In Peace" Archived 2019-01-20 at the Wayback Machine, God's Jukebox, 21 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Anne-Marie Nzié" Archived 2017-08-04 at the Wayback Machine, African Musicians Profiles.
- ^ "The Charm of Cameroon's Bikutsi Singer Anne Marie Nzié" Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Supreme Master Television.
- ^ a b Martin, Denis-Constant (2004). "Music in the Face of Authorities", African Geopologics. Accessed 10 April 2007.
- ^ a b c Nkolo, Jean-Victor, and Graeme Ewens (2000). "Cameroon: Music of a Small Continent". World Music, Volume 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East. London: Rough Guides Ltd, p. 443.
- ^ Nyamnjoh, Francis B., and Jude Fokwang (2005). "Entertaining Repression: Music and Politics in Postcolonial Cameroon[dead link]". African Affairs, 104/415 (pp. 251–74), p. 257.
- ^ a b "Coco Mbassi", BBC. Accessed 10 April 2007.
- ^ "La "Voix d'or du Cameroun", Anne-Marie Nzié, s'éteint". Culturebox. 25 May 2016.
- ^ Nyamnjoh and Fokwang (2005), p. 263.
- ^ Quoted in Nyamnjoh and Fokwang (2005), p. 265.
External links
- Anne-Marie Nzié discography at Discogs
Further reading
- Nkolo, Jean-Victor, and Graeme Ewens (2000). "Cameroon: Music of a Small Continent". World Music, Volume 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East. London: Rough Guides Ltd.
- Martin, Denis-Constant (2004). "Music in the Face of Authorities", African Geopologics. Accessed 10 April 2007.
- Nyamnjoh, Francis B., and Jude Fokwang (2005). "Entertaining Repression: Music and Politics in Postcolonial Cameroon[dead link]". African Affairs, 104/415, pp. 251–74.
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