Awesome Tapes From Africa, the legendary blog and record label, have produced another winner, this time from a Cameroonian artist called Gibraltar Drakus, who produced bikutsi, a local dance music. From the release’s Bandcamp site:
“By the early 1990’s, Les Têtes Brûlées were indisputably the most famous and influential artists in bikutsi, due in part to the innovations of their incendiary guitarist Théodore Zanzibar Epeme. The band captured everything that was exciting about the fast-developing bikutsi scene, lending their virtuosity to countless albums behind the major singers of the day and supporting each other on solo outings. Their signature post-modern face paint, outlandish haircuts, ubiquitous backpacks and irreverent vibe (a striking image dreamt up by journalist/impresario/bandleader Jean-Marie Ahanda) coalesced around astounding arrangements and perfect, interlocking musical performances by simply extraordinary technicians. Following their first European tour in 1987, the band blew up internationally but Zanzibar tragically, and mysteriously, passed away on the eve of their return to Europe, which nearly brought an end to the band completely. In hindsight, the consensus among most Cameroonians is Zanzibar’s contributions to biktusi were transformational and immeasurable.“