Patience Dabany
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Patience Marie Josephine Kama Dabany (born Marie Josephine Kama on 22 January 1944 in Brazzaville, Congo) is a something of a rarity - a lady Gabonese singer and drummer.
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[edit] Personal
Her parents were both of Gabonese origin, originating from the Bateke people in Haut-Ogooué region in southeastern Gabon. Patience Dabany grew up in a musical family and began to sing at an early age to her father's accordion accompaniment, while her brother played guitar. From there her path led to the church choir in Brazzaville and on to traditional song performances. Her mother was a traditional singer.
[edit] The First Lady
In 1958, she met Albert Bernard Bongo, a young Gabonese student. At just 15 years old she married Albert on 31 October 1959. They have a son Albert Bernard Bongo (9 February 1959) and a daughter Albertine Amissa Bongo (1964-1993).
Marie Josephine Kama, now known as Josephine Bongo, was the first lady of the Gabon republic. Together with her husband Albert the Gabonese Democratic Party was founded. She became involved in many social projects, including the promotion of women's rights, charities for children, etc. Working with culture he created the musical group dedicated to the Gabonese Democratic Party, Kounabeli (Superstars), where she performed as lead singer.
[edit] Musical career
In 1986 Marie and Albert divorced. Marie embarked on a career as a professional artist, under her new name, Patience Dabany. Her first album Levekisha was a great success in Gabon and in many African countries. Other albums followed such as Cheri Ton Disque Est Rayé, Associé, and Patience Dabany in 1994. The success of her 1997 album Nouvelle Attitude proved her popularity in Africa, so the same year Dabany returned to her motherland and reestablished herself in Libreville. In 2001 she released Article 106. Her 2004 world music album Obomiyia allowed her to tour with James Brown in Europe. She recorded an album with Kounabeli in 2005; the song La Connaissance from this album was one of the anthems of her former husband (now using the name Omar Bongo Ondimba) used during the presidential campaign of 2005.
Patience Dabany collaborated with many artists such as James Debarge, Tabu Ley Rochereau, and Tshala Muana. She is also the president of the Association of Gabonese Merchants and works in the field of charity.
In the USA she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of music in Los Angeles. She has also composed music for the cinema. Having performed at Paris Olympia in 2001, Patience Dabany is one of the most prolific musical ambassadors of Gabon. As of May 2006 Dabany is recording a new album.
