Those who grew up in the 70s, particularly lovers of African rhythms, had many artistes to look up to because of the melodious and meaningful renditions, danceable sounds, stagecraft, amid creative ingenuity of the yesteryears musicians.
Foremost of the yesteryears musicians was Manu Dibango, a saxophonist from Cameroon whose 1972 single ‘Soul Makossa’ made modern African music a clear presence on Western pop charts. Dibango was truly exceptional in his days. He developed a musical style that fuses jazz, funk and traditional Cameroonian music that exists to this day.
Sadly, the legendary musician and songwriter died on March 25, 2020, in a hospital in France, leaving a legacy for those following behind to carry on.
While many think his shoes are too big for those he left behind, Lee-james Edjouma, son of the late musician, thinks otherwise.
Lee-james Edjouma, who is better known as James BKS, his stage name, is already living out his music dreams and hopes to sustain his late father’s legacy.
A lyricist, DJ, music composer, and an African hiphop producer, James’ career started out in the US when he signed to Akon’s label, Konvict Musik. Being a producer and cutting his teeth with renowned urban figures such as R. City, T-pain and producing for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Snoop Dogg, Ja Rule, and Booba; he decided it was time to return to France to focus on his personal African music projects, after embracing his Cameroonian roots long-ignored and the discovery of innate talent for music production.
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Apart from being an artiste, James BKS also tried his hands on music entrepreneurship with Grown Kid, a record label and music production company, which he set up with his wife.
Of course, he music has come of age amid airing on international radios, while his artistic compositions have landed him a place in 7Wallace, Idris Elba’s London-based label, resulting in the release of three singles on the label featuring names like Allan Kingdom, Reo Cragun, Ebenezer, Idris Elba himself and his father, Manu Dibango. Moreover, James BKS is a man of many talents and his heritage has influenced him to compose music that reflects his identity as an African.
Recently, he released a pulsating new sound in his single ‘ No Unga Bunga’; a meeting point between traditional African rhythms, choirs and avant-garde urban sounds.
“No Unga Bunga” is the first track off his forthcoming album, set for release in 2021, which touches on selfbelief, heritage and grief, with a sample of the Super Beagle classic “Dust A Sound Boy” looped throughout James BKS’ signature sound, which is rich in percussion. ‘No Unga Bunga’ is both a cry and a message in the face of adversity by standing proud, strong and united. With the sad loss of his father, the legendary Cameroonian saxophonist, Manu Dibango to COVID-19 earlier this year, James BKS grapples with continuing and embracing his father’s legacy.
James’ newest single ponders on his internal battle and his desire to stand on his own and carve a niche for himself as evidenced when he sings: ‘Mama said go be great, bloodline royal in your vein’.
According to him, “This song is about me embracing my path no matter how hard or long the road to success might be. ‘No Unga Bunga’ is about heritage, not material things but what is truly meaningful and precious: education, love, lessons, advice, and time”.
Director and photographer Mahine SEF with an extensive repertoire to his name, brings this rhythmic and intense track to life in the visuals, outdoing himself using inheritance and legacy themes to depict James BKS as a leader of a mixed and eclectic community in the music video; leading fans to a post-apocalyptic universe where life no longer seems to exist. Yet there is an energy and hope that emanates from this nation where several portraits are superimposed to deliver an urban setting filled with the core of Africa, an implicit representation of James BKS’S multiculturalism.
The notion of movement in the music video is explored through African dance greats like Guinean dancer and contortionist Abdoulaye Keita and French krump champion who lends himself to the game of choreographer, accompanied by members of the Parisian afro-urban dance group, The Vipajiz. James’ music is the perfect crossover of his African roots; a nod to his father and urban hip-hop sensibility, having grown up in the United States and produced for the likes of Talib Kweli, Snoop Dogg, and Mr Eazi, as well as, French music icons, Booba and Soprano; earning him a place in Les Transmusicales in Paris, France, where he performed live on December 3, 2020.
‘ No Unga Bunga’ was premiered by Annie Mac of BBC 1Xtra and is officially out now via Idris Elba’s 7Wallace label and available for download and streaming on all digital platforms.
