28, December 2021
King of Ndombolo rhumba General Defao dies at 62 0
It was on a bed in the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala that the 62-year-old Lulendo Matumana breathed his last on December 27. The renowned artist known as General Defao succumbed to diabetes that he had been suffering from for several years.
Cameroon Concord News understands that General Def Defao had come to Douala last week for a private show. He was reportedly rushed to hospital without family members, but was assisted by some Congolese citizens until the last day of the singer’s time on earth.
It is the epilogue of a rich career that started in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He began singing in 1976, in small groups in a populous neighborhood of Kinshasa, following the footsteps of his models Papa Wemba, N’Yoka Longo, Gina Efonge and Evoloko, four singers of the group Zaïko in the 1970s. But the singer he identified with most was Tabu Ley Rochereau, and his breakthrough came five years later.
Defao joined Le Grand Zaïko Wawa, of the guitarist Félix Manuaku in 1981. The Kinois discovered then a young elegant singer and a good dancer. From 1983 to 1991, he made the beautiful days of the group Choc Stars, alongside another star of the Congolese song, Bozi Boziana. He then opted for frequent appearances on television, which helped to establish his popularity. His growing success and his innate charisma have strongly contributed to his beautiful epic.
By Rita Akana
31, December 2021
Legendary Indomitable Lions musician Willy Mendo reportedly held in Kondengui 0
Renowned French Cameroun artist Willy Mendo who travelled to Yaounde from Paris recently to attend the finals of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations beginning January 9 is now detained at the Maximum Security prison in Kondengui.
Willy Mendo was arrested on Thursday upon his arrival following an arrest warrant issued by a magistrate at the Mfoundi High Court in Yaoundé.
The judge Gertrude Sanama Ekassi stated in the warrant that the charges against the 64-year old artist were criminal in nature.
Cameroon Concord News understands the artist braved the pandemic and flew to Cameroon to release a new single entitled “Anthem to the Indomitable Lions” similar to what he did in 1984 after the Indomitable Lions success in Abidjan.
Our Yaoundé city reporter hinted that the football singer of the 80s and 90s is accused of misappropriation of public funds and he is presently in provisional detention.
Obam William Mendo, to use his real name recently left Paris, France, where he has been living for a long time, to attend the 2021 African Cup of Nations that his native country is organizing.
His mythical song entitled “Indomitable Lions” released the day after the coronation of the Indomitable Lions in Abidjan at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations soccer organized in 1984 in Côte d’Ivoire is always broadcast on state radio and television.
By Rita Akana