Oliver N’goma a Gabonese singer hailed as the king of Afro Zouk is dead
Regarded as “a monument of Gabonese music”, N’goma gained international fame through music in the style “Zouk”.
One of his biggest hits ‘Bane’ continues to receive huge airplay in Kenyan radio stations that play Rhumba and/or African classics more than 20 years after its release. The song also happens to be the title of his first album.
It initially did not receive commercial success until Radio Africa N.1 and Gilles Obringer on RFI played songs from the album. The album became one of the biggest sellers in the history of African music.
N’goma died in a hospital in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. He suffered kidney failure.
Nicknamed “Noli,” he was born in Mayumba in south-west Gabon in March 23, 1959. Oliver N’Goma started singing at the age of eight years. His father was one of the best players of his harmonium region.
Music and cinema have been the two passions of this artist. He studied accounting at the technical school of Libreville. He made his debut in integrating the high school band, Capo Sound, as a guitarist.
The second album “Adia”, also in partnership with Manu Lima, was released in December 1995. Five years later, Oliver took a new approach with “Seva”, choosing to work with artists with different musical backgrounds.
More than ten years after he started out, Oliver N’Goma’s music, a catchy combination of West Indian zouk and African beats, is as alive as ever.
Interestingly, the news of his death did not receive any media attention in Kenya despite there being 4 fully fledged Rhumba and African Classic radio stations. But I guess with resources being directed at the Serial Killer, World Cup, By-Elections, The Budget, there was simply no space/time to highlight the death of a mere musician.
Bane
and Adia
kenyanrk 