USA: African musician, Richard Bona speaks about his musical career and his new album

Cameroon born musician Richard Bona, is all set to release his fourth album this month. The new album features collaborations with artists such as John Legend and Susheela Raman. Bona has worked and recorded with the likes of Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, and Queen Latifah to name a few. Bona who has previously also lived in France recorded this album on the road in Brazil, away from the comforts of his studio in New York. Nicknamed the the 'African Sting' Bona is excited excited about his latest musical concoction. "The whole record was actually recorded in Brazil. So those are the simple stories that remind me of my childhood. I say, oh man, that's good. Let's put that into music," he said talking about the songs that listeners could expect on his latest album. Bona started playing music when he was three years old influenced by his musical grandparents. He started off with the balafon, a traditional marimba styled Cameroon instrument and moved on to the guitar when he left his small village for the city. He has been playing the bass guitar ever since. In his songs, listeners will hear very different instruments encompassing styles ranging from jazz and afro cuban rhythms to pop and rap. He sings in his native Douala, but believes that his music will find broad appeal despite the fact that he sings in a little known foreign tongue. "What is the most spoken language in the world? It's music. Music doesn't have a language, it has its own language. Language is more like holding a passport, you know, French, Italian, American. But music goes beyond that," Bona believes. The multi talented musician was hugely influenced by electric bass player Jaco Pastorius and has been compared to his idol on a number of occasions. Currently living in New York, Bona teaches at New York University. Not sure whether his own learning experience was complete, he begun the job reluctantly. But having tried it, he is now hoping to mentor a whole new generation of musicians. "I came to see how much these kids need me actually, how much they need all the stuff. You don't realize how much you got until you see someone asking you all these questions. So now I am having fun, I'm really having fun with the students there," Bona said. Richard Bona is currently touring the United States and his album Tiki releases on August 29th.

ITN Source | August 24, 2006

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