J.K. Mandengue – 1979

🎸👨‍🎤🪘🌍🔌 Jean-Karl Dikoto Mandengue, or Dikoto to his friends, is one of Cameroon’s bass legends, from the generation of Vicky Edimo and Jo Tongo. He played with RyCo-Jazz, and with Manu Dibango, as early as the 60s, and can be heard on Métronomie, alongside Nino Ferrer. In 1973, he joined the legendary Osibisa, then embarked on a solo career in the second half of the 70s. In 1979, with Slim Pezin, he produced this eponymous album, which knew no bounds. Afro-pop, funk, makossa – all the flavours of his masters can be found here, and Africa is in tune with the global zeitgeist of the time, able to move from disco to rock to over-the-top electro-afro with the greatest of ease.