The singer, nicknamed Le Rossignol, definitively left the music scene on December 30, 2025, due to illness.
He dedicated his 80 years of life to serving song for the joy of music lovers and the honor of Cameroonian music. An undeniable pillar of bikutsi in Cameroon, his voice and his entire body of work have soothed generations since the 1960s. An artist among the baobabs of the musical genre he practiced, like Ange Ebogo Emerent, Messi Martin, or Anne Marie Nzie, he distilled and defended original bikutsi until the last moments of his life.
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His career began in 1960 in cabarets where he performed European and Latin American songs with his group De Mandoline Jazz d’Efok. The native of Ebanga by Okola gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, taking his audience into a new musical dimension with Confiance Jazz and Ballet Eton de la Lékié. During this period, he released his first works to the public, including “Super moon ebon,” a hit released in 1983. At that time, Le Rossignol undertook several tours abroad, particularly on the African continent.
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Famous for his attachment to authentic traditional music, Mama Ohandja played the Ekomot, a traditional dance from the Lékié region. Then, by combining traditional and modern instruments, he mixed in a bit of jazz, tango, rock, waltz, or even Congolese rumba to add a touch of modernity to bikutsi. He is known as the inventor of Balafson, a device that transforms the sound of a guitar into a balafon sound, helping to give bikutsi its authentic character. The artist continued to produce until 2010. On December 22, 2024, Le Rossignol was honored with a tribute concert for his 50-year career. Upon his death, he leaves behind a rich musical heritage. His numerous songs will continue to liven up the national music scene.
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