Makossa is an infectious music genre from Cameroon. This body-swaying and energetic style of music has been the heartbeat and cornerstone of Cameroonian pop music culture for decades.

Makossa (meaning "dance" in Douala) originated in the 1950s in the coastal region of Cameroon, particularly Douala, evidence of cultural transfers and fusion. The genre stems from the Congolese rumba and blends traditional Cameroonian music, jazz, and Latin-American rhythms.

Though Manu Dibango is often dubbed the father of Makossa due to the global impact of his 1972 hit "Soul Makossa," the true pioneer of the genre is Emmanuel Nelle Eyoum, the lead singer of Los Calvinos, a Cameroonian musical band. Eyoum introduced the chant "kossa kossa" during a benefit performance in Douala, marking the beginning of the first wave of Makossa. The chant "kossa kossa" which was primarily to spur the crowd to dance became a frequent occurrence in the band's music.

The second wave of Makossa saw artists like Eboa Lotin, Francis Bebey, Jean Dikoto Mandengue, and the group Negro Styl (Black Styl) spread the genre throughout Africa. Makossa gained even more recognition when Eboa Lotin performed at the 1969 Pan-African Festival in Algiers, Algeria.

When defining the golden age of a genre, one has to consider a few characteristics: Global dominance, recognition, and its influence on other genres.

The 1970s to 1980s are considered the golden age of Makossa music with various versions emerging. This was when the world was dancing to the beats of a new rave, the sound of Makossa. Although records of this genre have been available, they were not discovered until decades later. Artists like Eboa Lotin, Misse Ngoh, Petit Pays, and Manu Dibango, especially, have popularized the genre across the globe.

The Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango became an international sensation with his infectious rhythms and melodies. His 1972 hit, Soul Makossa was a global sensation, topping charts worldwide. This track was discovered by American DJs Frankie Crocker and David Mancuso in 1973 the track took over the airwaves in the West, winning over diverse audiences across the Latino and Americas.

Soul Makossa's song paved the way for other African music on an international level and put Makossa on the map, cracking the Billboard Top 100 sales and radio play, dominating for nine straight weeks. This dominance earned Manu Dibango a 24-concert tour across the US with some of the top bands like the Temptations, Osibisa, and Fania All-Stars.

The golden age of Makossa, especially Manu Dibango’s Soul Makossa, went beyond just chart success, radio plays, and concerts. The genre contributed immensely to the development of disco and influenced a generation of artists. Soul Makossa became one of the most sampled African tracks in modern music, leaving a lasting impression on contemporary genres. Its legacy is reflected in the extensive catalog of samples used by artists worldwide.

Over the years, Soul Makossa has been sampled —from the drums to the sax rhythms and the vocals. Some of the prominent ones include:

Butt Naked Booty Blues (1990) – Poor Righteous Teachers (hip hop)

On The House Tip (1991) – Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch

Wanna Be Starting Something (1982) – Michael Jackson

Mama Makusa (2021) -  Big Baby Tape & Kizaru

After over a decade of dominance by Dibango and Makossa, the genre gave rise to several African and Cameroonian artists, while inspiring the traditional genre, Bikutsi, artists. This new wave introduced artists like Les Tetes Brulees, Mbarga Soukous, Maurice Elanga, Ben Decca, Black Styl, Mama Ohandja, Moni Bile, and Bebe Manga. They fused into the genre diverse influences such as brass instruments, keyboards, soukous, synthesizers, and zouk from the French Antilles, further crystallizing the genre into a more dynamic and modern sound.

Makossa remains an iconic genre that has played a critical role in shaping the music identity of Cameroon. It has inspired various styles like the Makossa New Wave, Pop Makossa, Makossa funk, Makossa soul, and others, reflecting diverse artistic influences.

A genre very similar to Soukous with more prominent brass instrument and a call and response performance style.

Makossa: A Deep Dive into the Infectious Music Genre from Cameroon

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