A Journey That Started Years Back

Hitting  the keys for legends like Salle John

 Julio Abong is probably a new name to most makossa lovers but, he has been into music for over 20 years and has worked with great names in the music industry. He was mentored by Eko Roselvelt and the training he received permitted him to cross paths, at some points very briefly, with Salle John, Dipita Ebongue, late Same Batcho, and Alex Toto with whom he worked. At the moment, he is working with Ruben Binam of Kemit 7. His international exploits, which have been very productive as well, have mostly been with bands such as the African Development Bank music orchestra and Matango band. He has equally worked with the Kumbaya Gospel Choir in Germany as pianist.

 His brand of makossa is an intriguing mix; he appropriates this genre of music from the Littoral with his mother tongue, Kedjom, the native language of the Babanki (kedjom) people in the North West Region of Cameroon. Living out of the country for 18 years has given him a new perspective on the value of his cultural heritage and home/country.  The journey that started from Cameroon to Côte D'Ivoire (Abidjan), Tunisia (Tunis) and Germany, where he now resides, has triggered a new consciousness and a strong cultural awareness. His debut album reflects this journey. The song titled “Home, Sweet Home" (click here to watch), for instance, is the voice of a man who celebrates his roots because home is the only place that truly accommodates him.

Julio Abong in the studio

The newly released video of "Divided we Fall” (click here to watch) is a call for togetherness, mutual support and brotherhood. It comes at a time when Cameroon is going through socio-political crisis and civil unrest.  It is his contribution to the ongoing discourse on national unity and peaceful coexistence and it is a reminder to us to awaken our humanity. This video, like the previous one, was shot in Cameroon and this gives more weight to the message he sends across.