Francis Bebey

Early life

Francis Bebey was born in Douala, Cameroon, on 15 July 1929. Bebey attended college in Douala, where he studied mathematics, before studying broadcasting at the University of Paris. He moved to the United States and continued to study broadcasting at New York University. In 1957, Bebey moved to Ghana at the invitation of Kwame Nkrumah, and took a job as a broadcaster.

Music career

In the early 1960s, Bebey moved to France and started work in the arts, establishing himself as a musician, sculptor, and writer. He was also the first African musician to use electric keyboards and programmable drum machines which he set alongside traditional African instruments. His most popular novel was Agatha Moudio's Son. While working at UNESCO from 1961 to 1974, he was able to become the head of the music department in Paris. This job allowed him to research and document traditional African music.

Bebey released his first album in 1969 and would go on to release over 20 albums on Ozileka, between 1975 and 1997. His music was primarily guitar-based, but he integrated traditional African instruments and synthesizers as well. His style merged Cameroonian makossa with classical guitar, jazz, pop, and electronics, and was considered by critics to be groundbreaking, "intellectual, humorous, and profoundly sensual". He sang in Duala, English, and French.

Bebey helped launch the career of Manu Dibango. He also had a major role in popularizing the ndehu, a one-note bamboo flute created by the Central African pygmies. Bebey conducted field research among pygmy tribes, focusing especially on their musical traditions.

Literary career

Bebey wrote novels, poetry, plays, tales, short stories, and nonfiction works. He began his literary career as a journalist in the 1950s and at one time worked as a journalist in Ghana and other African countries for the French radio network, Société de radiodiffusion de la France d'outre-mer (SORAFOM).

Bebey wrote poetry, including "Black Tears" (1963), a poem dedicated to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. His first novel, Le Fils d'Agatha Moudio (Agatha Moudio's Son), was published in 1967 and awarded the Grand prix littéraire d'Afrique noire in 1968; it remains his best-known work. His novel, L'Enfant pluie (The Child of Rain), published in 1994, was awarded the Prize Saint Exupéry.

In addition to exploring childhood and adult experiences in his works, Bebey also wrote tales drawn from the African oral tradition.

Death and legacy

Bebey died of a heart attack in Paris on 28 May 2001. He was survived by his children Patrick, Toups, and Kidi, as well as his wife.

John Williams' piece "Hello Francis" is written as a tribute to Bebey: "The piece is based on the Makossa, a popular dance rhythm from Cameroon often used by Francis, and includes a quote from his piece The Magic Box and a hidden bit of J.S. Bach."

Arcade Fire's song, "Everything Now," features a flute part from "The Coffee Cola Song" by Francis Bebey. The flute part was played by Patrick Bebey, Francis Bebey's son.

Awards

Francis Bebey was awarded the Grand Prix de la Mémoire of the GPLA 2013 for his literary legacy. The Grand Prix de la Mémoire is an award dedicated to major writers of contemporary Cameroonian literature who have died. He was also awarded the Grand Prix Litteraire De L'Afrique Noire in 1968 for his first novel Le Fils d'Agatha Moudio (Agatha Moudio's Son). The Grand Prix Litteraire De L'Afrique Noire is a literary prize for Black Africa. Additionally, Bebey's novel L'Enfant pluie (Rain Child) won the Prix Saint Exupéry award in 1994.

Discography

Albums

Concert Pour Un Vieux Masque, LP, Philips, 1968

Savannah Georgia, LP, Fiesta Records, 1975

Guitare D'Une Autre Rime, LP, Ozileka, 1975

La Condition Masculine, LP, Ozileka, 1976

Fleur Tropicale, LP, Ozileka, 1976

Je Vous Aime Zaime Zaime, LP, Ozileka, 1977

Ballades Africaines, LP, Ozileka, 1978

Priere Aux Masques. LP, Ozileka, 1979

Un Petit Ivoirien, LP, Ozileka, 1979

Afrikanischer Frühling, LP, Marifon, 1980

Haïti - Guitar Music Trio, LP, Ozileka, 1981

Bia So Nika, LP, Ozileka, 1981

Africa Sanza, Ozileka, 1982

New Track, Ozileka, 1982

Pygmy Love Song, LP, Editions Makossa, 1982

Super Bebey - Vingt Plages Ensoleillées, 2xLP, Ozileka, 1983

Sanza Nocturne, Ozileka, 1984

Akwaaba: Music For Sanza, Original Music, 1984

Le Solo De Bruxelles, LP, Ozileka, 1985

Heavy Ghetto, Anti Apartheid Makossa, LP, Ozileka, 1985

Si Les Gaulois Avaient Su!, LP, Blue Silver, 1986

Baobab, LP, Volume, 1988

African Woman, LP, Volume, 1988

World Music Guitar, CD, Ozileka, 1992

Sourire De Lune, CD, Ozileka, 1996

Compilations

Rire Africain, Ozileka, 1981

Nadolo / With Love - Francis Bebey Works: 1963–1994, CD, Original Music, 1995

African Electronic Music 1975–1982, LP/CD, Born Bad Records, 2011

Psychedelic Sanza 1982–1984, LP/CD, Born Bad Records, 2014

La Condition Masculine, CD, Sonodisc