In 1976, at the height of the disco wave, it was on the famous Fiesta label – which had released Soul Makossa a few years earlier – that the first album by the atypical Kemayo was released. The Cameroonian singer jumped on the bandwagon and released Africa l’An 2000, a fiery Afro-disco-funk album backed by the Gibson Brothers (the Francfort brothers play drums and keyboards) and the infernal rhythm of Vicky Edimo and Jo Tongo. Elvis Kemayo has perfectly integrated the pop codes of the moment, and sometimes sings in French over rhythms with a hint of Brazil. But the overall feel of the album is one of groove, of high-voltage guitar riffs carried by molten bass, and of disco-funk enhanced by Afro-percussion that is simply irresistible.
Africa l’An 2000 – Kemayo, 1976
