Ben Decca
Ben Decca, whose real name is Mouangue Eyoum Victor, is a multi-talented Cameroonian musician, singer and composer. Born in Douala in 1958, he is renowned for the verve he brings to his compositions of makossa, a musical style that resonates with the soul of the Sawa people. But did you know that behind this African music icon also lies an automotive expert?
Originally from the Littoral region of Cameroon, Ben Decca has succeeded in making makossa, the traditional musical rhythm of the Cameroonian water people, known and appreciated throughout the world thanks to a career spanning more than 30 years. With 25 albums and over 150 titles to his credit, he is considered a benchmark in his country’s music scene. It was thanks to his cousin, the illustrious Joe Mboule, that Ben Decca took his first steps in music in the late 1970s. Inspired by artists such as Eboa Lotin, Ekambi Brillant and François Misse Ngoh, he released his first solo album in 1981.
Since then, he has been singing about love, in French and Douala, with passion and sensitivity. Some of his many albums have left their mark on Cameroonian music history, such as “Ye Te Na Oa”, released in 1982, and “Amour à sens Unique”. And in 2017, he returned to the forefront of the music scene with his 25th album, “Électron Libre”, which includes tracks like “Souffrance d’amour” and “Double Heat”.
In 2015, to celebrate his 30-year career, Ben Decca gave memorable concerts in Douala and Yaoundé, accompanied by close friends and promising young talent. And to crown his artistic achievement, in 2015 he was awarded the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Valeur by the Minister of Culture.
Ben Decca is a complete and passionate artist, whose music continues to inspire and touch hearts around the world. With his unique voice and undeniable verve, Papa Ben, as he is affectionately called by his fans, is a true icon of African and Cameroonian music.
