(b Douala, Cameroon, 16 July 1929). Cameroonian composer, writer and musician. He studied mathematics in Douala and continued to study English at the Sorbonne, Paris, and is perhaps best known for his comprehensive guide to African music, first published in French as Musique de l’Afrique (1969), later translated into English (1975). He assumed a post in the Department of Information at UNESCO in 1972. In addition to his writing, Bebey is also known as a guitarist and a composer. His solo recital tours (USA, Canada, Africa and Europe) typically included arrangements of African-influenced materials, as well as his own compositions. His best-known compositions are perhaps Le Christ est né à Bomba (1963), Black Tears (1963), Concert for an Old Mask (1965), The Ashanti Doll is Sleeping (1967) and The Poet’s Virile Prayer (1973). Bebey’s guitar-playing style, classical rather than the typical African two-finger playing style, demonstrates the difficult artistic position he has adopted, neither ‘African’ nor ‘European’. At times rejected by African communities at home, he has tenaciously pursued an individual career.
(selective list)
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Black Tears (1963); The Poet’s Virile Prayer (1973); Concert pour un vieux masque: poème (Paris, 1980); Clémentina de Jésus: musique pour guitare (Paris, 1983) |
‘The Vibrant Intensity of Traditional African Music’, The Black Perspective in Music, ii (1974), 117–21
African Music: a People’s Art (Westport, CT, 1975)
‘Traditional Music from the Ivory Coast’, Balafon, xxxxvi (1980), 20–23
‘La musique dans la vie traditionnelle africaine’, in Les musiques guadeloupéennes: Dans le champ culturel afro-américain, au sein des musiques du monde (Paris, 1988), 209–22
and other resources
D. Hoyet: Francis Bebey: ecrivain et musicien camerounais (Paris, 1979)
Pièces pour guitare seule, OCORA OCR 27 (1965)
Supplement à Musique de l’Afrique, Horizons de France HF 1001 (1969) (accompanies the book, Musique de l’Afrique)
Guitaire d’une autre rime, Ozileka 301 (1975)
Une guitare pour Vence: musique et interprétation à la guitare, Ozileka Ozil 3305 (1977)
Priere aux masques, Ozileka OZIL 3308 (1979) (setting of poem by Leopold Senghor)
Africa Sanza, Ozileka 3312 (1982)
Pygmy Love Song, Editions Makossa EM 2334 (1982)
Akwaaba, Original Music OMCD 005 (1984)
Heavy Ghetto, Ozileka 3316 (1985)
Amaya, Ozileka CD 13902 (1991)
La condition masculine, Ozileka CD13 903 (1991) (music, lyrics and text by Bebey)
Lambarene Schweitzer, Ceddia CED001 (1993) (subject: Albert Schweitzer)
Mwana o, Ozileka CD 13905 (1994)
Nandolo: With Love, Original Music OMCD 027 (1995) (Bebey: vocals, Pygmy flute and acoustic guitar)
GREGORY F. BARZ