Wes Madiko

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Wes Madiko, better known as Wes, is a musician who grew up in Mouataba, Cameroon. Born on January 15th 1964, he first saw the light of day under the baobab tree in Moutaba, which lies some hundred miles away from the city of Douala, Cameroon. From the tender age of two, his grand father taught him about healing music and how to play the kalimba instrument. The pair soon became inseperable. His grandfather taught him his love of bantou history and the wisdom of the elephant, he animist bantou philosophy. This was responsible for an important part of his education: "it was in bush school and during night-time gatherings listening to the metallic beat of the kalimba that I learned the adventures of the father of all ancestors, E'kwa Mutu."

In 1977, at the age of ten, Wes became the conductor of the group "kwa kwassi", which means "think right". This musical formation brought together the most talented youngsters in the village, who received instruction together in history and art.

In 1987, once more, Wes started to enjoy musical night of the Wouri riverbanks. He was impatient to get back in touch with the Moutaba spirit, to promote bafoun-bantou tradition. He returned to the home of his ancestors. He revived the kwa kwassi orchestra and embarked on a tour in Bafoun country. A group of tourists turned up, and they were all bewitched by the music, including a young womwn from Lille, France. And so Wes set off for Europe, with his kalimba under his arm.

1988: Formation of the group Fakol with Benjamin Valfroy and Jo Sene. The group played in the Netherlands and in other cities throughout Europe. He started, aside from musical activity, to develop his involvement in social work. He visited schools in Lille, and worked with children. He took great pleasure in transmitting the wisdom of the elephants and the ancient history of Africa.

1990: Death of Jacques, Wes' brother and talented guitarrist. His father died a few months later, following a motorbike accident. Meditations on the fragility of the self: "there comes a time when a feeling of uselessness invades you and threatens to break you, but you hang in there, convinced that there's always a breath of life somewhere."

In 1992 Wes travels to the US and releases his album "Roots". He is giving Concerts in Atlanta

Wes is meeting Michel Sanchez of "Deep Forest". They immediately form an artistic collaboration, embarking on the album "Welenga", which means "Universal Conscience".

In 1996 Wes signs a contract with Sony Music France to release his album "Welenga". Thus Wes became one of the stars of the group "Deep Forest". He gave concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, in Japan, Hungary, Poland, and Prague. The French TV channel TF1 saw "Alane" as the summer song of the year 1997.

From 1997 on Wes performs a G7 concert with "Deep Forest" in Lyon, France, and is known as a multitalented artist whose music enriches the world, as well for his humanuity as an individual concerned with the plight of children and those less fortunate in the world.

Wes became the first African artist whose record went diamond. At the 10th Anniversary of the World Music Awards in Monaco, presided and attended by Prince Albert, Wes caused a sensation when he received the Award for best record sale of the year by an African artist (May 6th, 1998). In the same year he performed "I love Football" for the FIFA World Cup in France.

In 1999, he performed "In Youpendi", the signature song of Disney's "Lion King II".

In 2002 Paramount Picture USA invite Wes to perform in the movie "The Wild Thornberry", and his song "Awa Awa" has been used as soundtrack. This song was as well the soundtrack for the German movies "Falsche Partner" and "Ein Fall Fuer Zwei". "Alane" was used in the German films "Zahn Um Zahn" and "Aus Heiterem Himmel".

Wes is now in 2007 working on a new Biography and spiritual book. He is about to realise a new album.

Contents

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

Welenga

  • "Alane" (1997)
  • "Awa Awa" (1997)
  • "Midiwa Bôl" (I Love Football) (1998) (the official theme for the Cameroon World Cup in 1998)

Sinami

  • "Keli Maye" (2000)

Other

  • "Doutou" (1999)
  • "In Youpendi" (1999)

[edit] Remixes

  • "Awa Awa" was remixed by Junior Vasquez.
  • "Alane" was remixed by Tony Moran, Trouser Enthusiasts, Chris "The Greek" Panaghi, and Philcat.
  • "Midiwa Bôl" (I Love Football) was remixed by Forthright.
  • "Keli Maye" was remixed by Soda Club.

[edit] External link

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