Méngo – Akendengue, 1980

🎷🌿🥁🎺🇬🇦🇨🇲🇨🇬🎶 In 1980, with Méngo, Pierre Akendengue, now 81, continued his quest to rebuild African identity. He tells the stories and legends of the forest to save them from the oblivion imposed by colonization. And to do this, he relies on the music he masters so well. Surrounded by faithful musicians, he navigates between folk, traditional choirs and afro-funk. Central Africa is represented by Brice Wassy, Sam Ateba, Vicky Edimo and Aladji Touré from Cameroon, Sammy Massamba from Congo, Prosper N’Kouri, Engone Akoughey and Charles Edjiwet from Gabon. Regulars include Vincent Daune, Richard Raux and the unmistakable brass of Jacques Bolognesi et al. Méngo, like many of Akendengue’s other albums, has a strong Afrobeat and jazz flavour, and confirms its creator’s standing alongside the likes of Fela, Dibango and Ray Lema.