1958

With his soulful voice, Cameroonian author and singer-songwriter Blick Bassy delivers a luminous and reflective album of 11 songs. Using the local Bassa language, he evokes his country's recent history and its courageous fight for independence. Bassy invites us to remember historical events and the leading heroes of this time, including Ruben Um Nyobé, who was executed in 1958. He also chronicles the chaos of urban life, especially in the song ‘Wonńi’, where he describes the increasing dependence on alcohol in his country. On ‘Mpodol’ Bassy honours the value of the agricultural and pastoral village life of his elders where everything was shared in harmony, which is in stark contrast to the millions who are now trying to survive without work in the African megalopolis.

Tenderness, sorrow and gentle persuasion prevail throughout the album. There is a feeling of meditative intimacy in Bassy's music. There are no drums or percussion on the album at all. Instead, pulsating assiko, bolobo or hongo rhythms are played on melodic instruments: Bassy's guitar and banjo, Clément Petit's cello, Johan Blanc's trombone and Alexis Anérilles' trumpet and keyboards. The overall production is refined and serves hauntingly beautiful melodies. 1958 is crafted with peaceful delicacy.