Prince Nico Mbarga

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Prince Nico Mbarga (born January 1950 , Abakaliki , Nigeria; † 24. June 1997 ) was a High Life - musician , the son of a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father. He became known for the song "Sweet Mother" recorded with his band Rocafil Jazz . Although that remained his only major hit, Mbarga played an important role in the development of African pop music. With his soulful voice to the light melodies of his acoustic guitar, Mbarga created a unique mixture of Igbo and Congolese guitar music and highlife rhythms.

Career

Early years

Mbarga played the xylophone , conga (drum) , drum and electric guitar in school bands . In 1970 he made his debut as a member of the hotel band Melodie Orchester. With the band Rocafil Jazz , which he founded himself , he performed regularly at the Hotel Naza in the Nigerian city of Onitsha . In 1973, Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz released a disappointing single. Her second single, I No Go Marry My Papa, was already a regional hit.

The band remained known only regionally in the following years and their record label EMI let the record contract expire. They then signed with the Nigerian record company Rogers All Stars based in Onitsha and recorded Sweet Mother . Sung in pidgin English , the song became one of the top sellers in Nigerian music history. In the six years until 1981 that Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz were signed to Rogers All Stars, they recorded nine albums.

Later years

In 1982 Mbarga temporarily moved to England and became known for his flamboyant style inspired by 1970s glam rock performances. He continued to perform with Rocafil Jazz, but also with the London Highlife Band the "Ivory Coasters" and Cameroonian singer Louisiana Tilda.

Back in Nigeria, Mbarga founded his own record studio with distribution by Polydor. Mbarga and the original members of Rocafil Jazz were separated when some Cameroon-born members of the band were deported to their homeland. Although he later founded a new Rocafil Jazz Band, Mbarga could no longer continue his earlier success. He turned his attention to managing his two hotels, Hotel Calbar and the Sweet Mother Hotel.

death

Prince Nico Mbarga died in a motorcycle accident on June 24, 1997, leaving “Sweet Mother” as one of Nigeria's most famous songs. "Sweet Mother" is sometimes referred to as Africa's anthem and was voted the most popular African song by BBC readers and listeners.

See also

Web links

supporting documents

  1. ^ Prince Nico Mbarga: Profiles
  2. ↑ PRINCE NICO MBARGA ( English ) ngex.com. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
personal data
SURNAME Mbarga, Prince Nico
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Nigerian musician
DATE OF BIRTH January 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH Abakaliki , Nigeria
DATE OF DEATH June 24, 1997