Prince Nico Mbarga
Prince Nico Mbarga (* January 1950, Abakaliki, Nigeria, † 24 June 1997) was a highlife musician, son of a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father. He is best known for the rehearsed with his band Rocafil jazz song " Sweet Mother ". Although the remain his only major hit, Mbarga played an important role in the development of African pop music. With his soulful voice to the light melodies of his acoustic guitar Mbarga created a unique blend of Ibo (People ) and Congolese guitar music and highlife rhythms.
Career
Early years
In school bands played Mbarga xylophone, conga ( drum), drum and electric guitar. In 1970 he made his debut as a member of the hotel - band melody orchestra. With the founding of his own band jazz Rocafil he stepped regularly in the hotel Naza in the Nigerian city of Onitsha on. 1973 published Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz a disappointing single. Their second single I No Go Marry My Papa was already a regional hit.
The band remained in the following years only known regionally and her record label, EMI let expire the record deal. They signed afterwards in the Nigerian record company Rogers All Stars based in Onitsha, and took on Sweet Mother. The sung in pidgin English song was one of the top sellers in the history of Nigerian music. In the six years to 1981, the Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz All Stars were with Rogers under contract, they recorded nine albums.
Later years
1982 moved Mbarga temporarily to England and was known for his extravagant, inspired by 1970s glam rock - style performances. He continued to perform with Rocafil jazz, but also with the London highlife band the "Ivory Coasters " and Cameroonian vocalist Louisiana Tilda.
Back in Nigeria, Mbarga founded his own record studio with distribution by Polydor. Mbarga and the original members of the Rocafil Jazz have been deported by born in Cameroon separately as some members of the band in their home country. Although he later founded a new Rocafil jazz band, Mbarga could no longer connect to its previous success. He turned his attention to the management of its two hotels, hotel Calbar and the Sweet Mother Hotel, too.
Death
Prince Nico Mbarga was killed in a motorcycle accident on 24 June 1997, leaving behind " Sweet Mother " as one of the most famous songs of Nigeria. " Sweet Mother " is sometimes called Africa's anthem and has been voted by readers and listeners of the BBC 's most popular African song.