Atna Jean Emmanuel (Manu) Njock,[1] aka Zekuhl, is a singer, guitarist, percussionist and a songwriter of world music. He presents a Bolbo-Jazz style. He sings in Bàsàa (a Cameroon language), French and English.
Zekuhl | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Atna Jean Emmanuel Njock |
| Born | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | World music |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Website | zekuhl |
Early life edit
Njock was born in Quebec City and raised in Cameroon. His initiation to Cameroonian and Bantu musical traditions, as well as those of the Baka Pygmies who lived near his village of Kaya, began at age four. He studied many Cameroonian musical styles, including the Assiko, the Bolbo, the Bikutsi, the Ndin, the Mangambeu, the Bol, the Makossa, the Mbalè, the Mpeya of the Baka Pygmies. He also learned to play the Nkuu (a wooden, cylinder-shaped drum with hollowed-out slits) also known as the African telephone, since it reproduces the sound of spoken language.[2]
Career edit
Njock arrived in Montreal (Quebec, Canada) in 1991. Joining the Quebec music scene as Zekuhl, he at first played the guitar,[3] and later developed a style which included his diverse African influences.[2] In 1992 he released a self-titled album. He performed at a number of cultural and music festivals in Quebec.[4]
Zekuhl's third album, I Bolo, released in 2011, combined jazz funk guitar and bantu rhythms;[5][6] eight years later he released Tòòdana ("Awake"), with lyrics in the Baasa language.[7]
Discography edit
- 1992: Zekuhl
- 1997: Amon
- 2011: I Bolo
Awards edit
- 2011: nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards «World Solo Artist of the Year»[8]
- 2010: Jean Bikoko Aladin Award (delivered by Cameroonian community figures in Canada)
- 1991: nominated L'Empire des futures stars
References edit
- ^ Broughton, Simon; Ellingham, Mark; Trillo, Richard (2000). World Music: Latin and North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific (2nd ed.). Rough Guides. p. 361. ISBN 9781858286365.
- ^ a b "Francofolies de Montréal - Zekuhl : décoder l’ancestral, recréer le présent ". Le Devoir, Yves Bernard, 11 June 2012
- ^ "Disque - I Bolo, Zekuhl". Le Devoir, Yves Bernard, 19 July 2013
- ^ "UN QUART DE SIÈCLE DE MUSIQUES AFRICAINES À MONTRÉAL". Le Carrefour des opinions, Yves Alavo . 09-02-2011
- ^ "Atna Njock I Bòlo". Voir, Ralph Boncy, 2 June 2011
- ^ "Manu Atna Njock aurait pu être électrotechnicien". Journal de Cameroun. Aug 19, 2011
- ^ "TÒÒDANA, Zekuhl". Le Devoir, Philippe Renaud, 20 December 2019
- ^ "Results 2011". The Canadian Folk Music Awards
External links edit
- Zekuhl Official website
- Club Culture: Zekuhl
- African Recording Reviews #5 (several reviews, includes Amon)