Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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MANGA, Bebe

(b Elizabeth Prudence Manga Bessem, '48, Mante, Cameroon). African singer-composer and pianist. Self-taught; began pro singing in clubs in Douala, moved to Libreville in Gabon, where she sang mixture of European ballads and Douala folksongs. Moved to Abidjan, then Paris '80 to make first LP Amie, with mokossa, Congolese and Western pop tunes; title track brought her fame two years later: written by Ebanda Alfred and backed by Nelle Eyoum (both ex-Los Camaroes, leading Cameroonian band), it sold more than a million and spawned numerous covers. She toured Carribean and Japan '83, was awarded French Marracas D'or '83; moved to NYC to try to break out of African pigeonhole but was unsuccessful; played occasionally with Haitian outfit Tabou Combo. Some of her tracks, such as "Bele Sambo', "A Loba' and "Soir au Village', incl. in 3-disc compilation of Cameroonian music Fleur Musicales du Cameroon '83 on Afro-Vision.