Explore Bikutsi on Josplay Music Bikutsi is a social dance that is typically performed in groups. The dancers move in a circle, clapping and stomping their feet to the beat of the music. The dance is often accompanied by singing and chanting.Mostly performed at festivals and celebrations.
A Cameroonian genre that was developed from the traditional style of the Beti or Ewondo people.
About 20 years after Anne-Marie Nzie popularized bikutsi on the airwaves, Messi Me Nkonda Martin, the lead singer of Los Camaroes, electrified the genre. Known as the "father of modern bikutsi," he transformed it into the style recognized today as modern bikutsi.
Years later, especially in the 1960s, this feminist music genre of the Beti people was gradually taken over by men as it evolved with the incorporation of modern instruments such as guitar and singing style. The father of modern-day Bikutsi, Messi Martin, introduced the guitar sounds into Bikutsi by using it to reproduce the balafon sounds. Other artists who led the popularity parade of this genre were Elanga Maurice, Mama Ohandja, Zélé le bombardier, Nkodo Sitony, and the iconic band called Les Têtes Brûlées, who emerged in the 1980s.
The group Les Tête Brûlées continued to captivate audiences with their exceptional talent and eccentric style, even after the passing of their leader, Zanzibar. Their unique approach helped bikutsi gain greater visibility and international acclaim. The group was invited to perform on tours across Africa, Europe, the U.S., and Japan.
During their 1988 tour in France, director Claire Denis, documented their journey, resulting in the 1989 film Man No Run. The group also supported the Cameroon national soccer team during its remarkable performance in the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
In the 1990s, there was a re-emergence of female bikutsi singers such as Catherine Edoa Ngoa, popularly known as K-tino.
It is characterized by its high-pitched, nasal vocals, which are often sung in call-and-response style. The lyrics of Bikutsi songs are often about love, loss, and social commentary
The lyrics of Bikutsi songs are often about love, loss, and social commentary.
Borrowing from the Beti culture, Bikutsi music has had a significant impact on Cameroonian culture. It has helped to create a sense of national identity, and it has also been used to promote social change. Bikutsi is a vibrant and dynamic art form that continues to evolve and change. It is a unique and important part of Cameroonian culture.
The timbre of Bikutsi music is often described as being rich and vibrant, with a wide range of tonal colors. This is due to the use of a variety of traditional instruments, and percussion section which plays a key role in creating the genre's lively, upbeat tempo.
The rhythm structure of modern Bikutsi music is typically based on a 4/4 time signature, with a strong emphasis on the offbeat. The melodic line is often simple and repetitive, with a focus on the vocals. Traditionally, Bikutsi is notable for being in a 6/8 or 3/4 time signature, primarily performed on the Mvet and Balafon. However, the modern evolution and additional of instruments like the electric guitar (both rhythm and bass), keyboards, hi-hat, and snare, maintain the genre's polyrhythmic essence, enhancing its complexity.