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Music of Gabon has entertained people of the country over the years. People who visit Gabon more often get mesmerized by the mellifluous Music of Gabon. There are many options of getting entertained in Gabon, such as visiting the nightclubs or listening to the traditional music of the land.
What Music Is Heard In Gabon
The history of modern Gabonese began when guitarist and singer Pierre Akendengue released his first album. Classically trained in Europe, the musician and his compositions reflect the influence of Western classical music. When Akendengue was trying hard to find a foot hold in Europe he was supported by Pierre Barouh, a powerful man in the French music industry. Incidentally Pierre Barouh was responsible for launching the careers of Brigitte Fontaine and Jacques Higelin.
In the1980s, the first Gabonese recording studio, Studio Mademba was opened in the capital. Gabonese music finally took flight when musicians from across Africa and even in the Caribbean traveled to Libreville to record. During this time Libreville produced enough pan-African hits to rival the popular music produced in cities like Abidjan and Johannesburg.
Gabon boasts an array of folk styles. Famous pop stars like Patience Daban have their roots in this country. The albums of Dabany have a distinctively Gabonese element in its music. Famous other musicians who come from Gabon include guitarists like Georges Oyendze, La Rose Mbadou and Sylvain Avara, and the singer Oliver N'Goma. Apart from the traditional rumba, makossa and soukous other well heard music are imported rock and hip hop from the US and UK.
A discussion of Gabonese music is inconclusive without the sacred music of the Bwiti. This music has been attributed to the Mitsogo or the Fang or other peoples. Many famous musician s around the world believe that Gabon is the center of musical initiation. They zealously compare the music of Gabon with what Tibet is to Asia, the spiritual center of religious initiations.
Recent studies have demonstrated the knowledge of the Bwiti on the relationship of the music of iboga to effect. A famous Gabonese folk instrument which finds a wide use in the music of the country is Obala. Other well known instruments are the ngombi, balafon and traditional drums.
Music of Gabon has an intrinsic charm of its own. The influence of this can mostly be felt in all kinds of African music.
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