Vieux Fascistes – The ‘old fascists’, are the aged rulers who still have the say in various African countries and whose power is based on old colonial structures. This Afro-club banger, produced by Ted Gaier, brings them before a tribunal: “Le peuple vas vous jugés” – “The people will judge you,” Jeano prophesies. Jeano has written a political anthem for francophone Africa with this song. Guest vocalist is Raz from Niger – a comrade-in-arms of Jeano’s from the days of the Hamburg Lampedusa movement.
videowork / director: Timo Schierhorn / augealtona
music produced by Ted Gaier
(c) by Not OK Records 2024
Mkoum – ‚Mkoum’ is set in Eboné, the village north of Douala where Jeano Elong comes from. Mkoum is the name of a ceremonial dance in which only the elders of the community, the initiated, can participate. The song is a call for unity and peace in the communities. ‘Brother and brother / Don’t fight,’ sings Jeano. ‘The tribes / The family / All brothers and sisters – unite!’ Massa Dembele plays Balafon alongside a hypnotic guitar loop by Twickel.
Bâto – Bâto has a 6/8 makossa beat, surf guitar and a surprising twist towards the finale. Jeano wrote the song when he ended up in Hamburg after many years on the run and joined the Schwabinggrad Ballett collective. “That was a new experience for me – how we met, how we learnt from one another and shared our experiences.” “Bâto” means “people”. The song is a message to those who equate success with money and look down on refugees. “I’m like a piece of wood on the water – that’s how you see me,” sings Jeano. “But I, I’ve got other people.” Israeli drummer Oded Kafri plays the drums, Erica Kafack and Marinette Kamga sing backing vocals, and Massa Dembele from Burkina Faso plays the djembe.
Jeano Elong voc
Simone Kesting bass
Christine Schulz keys
Massa Dembele djembe
Michael Owusu Kuffour drums
Christoph Twickel guitar
Mâleâ – Mâleâ means “advice”; it’s about life and love. “Much happens in secret / by day but also by night,” sings Jeano. “If you really want to understand what’s going on, ask your grandparents, they know what’s what.” Oded Kafri plays the drums, Toto Lightman the keyboard; the guitar strings are muted with cotton threads, as is customary in Bikutsi, a rhythmically complex genre from Cameroon.
musical accompaniment among friends:
Christine Schulz / Simone Kesting / Christoph Twickel
NDR TV-Feature on Jeano Elong by Natascha Geier 2024