Oliver N'Goma

Oliver N'Goma (23 March 1959 – 7 June 2010) was a Gabonese afro-zouk and soukous singer and guitarist. He was born in Mayumba in south-west Gabon in 1959. He is best known for his 1989 song Bane, which was popularized by Radio Africa N.1 and Gilles Obringer.

Oliver N'Goma
Born23 March 1959
Mayumba, Gabon
Origin Gabon
Died7 June 2010(2010-06-07) (aged 51)
Libreville, Gabon
GenresZouk, Soukous, Afropop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active19882010
LabelsLusafrica BMG

Early life

N'Goma grew up with the nickname "Noli." He was first exposed to music by his father, a teacher and harmonium player. N'Goma took his first music lessons at the age of eight, and began performing for audiences in 1971, after his family left Mayumba for the Gabonese capital, Libreville so that he could attend school. While taking classes in accounting, he joined the school band, called Capo Sound, with whom he learned to play guitar. The group performed at formal events, honing N'Goma's ability to perform on-stage. In 1988, N'Goma's love of film led him to a job with Gabon TV, where he worked in France as a cameraman.


Career

In Paris, N'Goma completed his demo tapes, which he had recorded at home in Gabon. He shared this music with Manu Lima, a well-known record producer from Cape Verdean. Lima was impressed with N'Goma's music and handled the artistic direction of his first record, Bane.

The album enjoyed modest success until receiving heavy airplay in Africa. In particular, the title track rose in popularity in Africa, France, and the French West Indies, as a party anthem. The album is one of the best-selling African albums to date.

N'Goma released a second album, Adia in December 1995, again working with Manu Lima. Five years later, N'Goma released his third album, Seva, without the help of Lima. In 2006, the pair reunited for Saga. A greatest hits compilation, Best of Oliver N'Goma was released in 2004.

Discography

  • Bane (1990)
  • Adia (1995)
  • Séva (2001)
  • Saga (2006)

Death

Oliver N’Goma died from kidney failure, which he had battled for the last two years of his life, on 7 June 2010 at Omar Bongo Hospital in Libreville, Gabon.[1]

See also

References

  1. Robert Kalumba (9 June 2010). "King of Zouk Oliver N'goma passes on". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  • Hanssen, Bjørn-Erik. "Oliver N'Goma". The Leopard Man's African Music Guide. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2006.


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