Night Fever :: Love SONGS & BLUES

Hoigen Ekwalla
(born Ekwalla Mpouli Eugène) (1949–2008) was a prominent Cameroonian musician known for his makossa music style. He gained fame in the 1980s and was recognized as the Artist of the Year in Cameroon in 1994.
Career and Life
Early Life: Born in Bonatéki, a quarter in Douala, Cameroon, Ekwalla lost his father at a young age. He worked as a mechanic and electrician before moving to Paris in 1980 and subsequently starting his music career back in Cameroon with the help of Kotti François.
Musical Style: He developed a particular talent for the guitar and played it on his albums. His music, often described as having a “velvet voice” and elegant appearance, featured sweet melodies and danceable rhythms.
Awards: He received a “Disque d’Or” (Gold Record) for his album Chat botté in 1988. His album Mon amie (1994, sometimes titled Mon amie vérité in 1995) earned him the title of Artist of the Year in Cameroon.
Later Years & Death: Frustrated by music piracy in Cameroon, he ventured into business in 2003, but never abandoned his passion for music. He was working on a new album in 2008 when he faced health problems. He died on October 23, 2008, in Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, leaving behind his mother, elder sister, and two children.
Source: Google