TOP 10 BEST CAMEROONIAN ARTISTES(MUSICIANS) OF 2020
Every Cameroonian music lover has a favorite singer or rapper who always remains at the top of their list year in, year out whether or not they are at their prime game. Nevertheless, some artistes always prove tougher than your favorites in terms of consistency, bodies of work, concerts, endorsements deals, impact in the society, streaming numbers and hit songs.
The year 2020 was a critical year for Cameroonian artistes and the entertainment milieu in general. The advent of the Corona Virus pandemic made the entire universe pause for the entire year. Nonetheless, Cameroonian artistes took this advantage to themselves and blessed our speakers with smashing hit singles, mind blowing EPS and bodies of work that made them cement a position on our TOP 10 Best Cameroonian Artistes(Musicians) of 2020 list.
If a song didn’t set clubs on fire, it mended broken hearts, others made couples fall in love and like the popular Cameroonian phrase used to express one’s love for music which goes thus “Na this his song chop my school fees”.
Below are 237Showbiz’ TOP 10 Best Cameroonian Artistes(Musicians) of 2020. We shall be taking into consideration hit singles, projects (Albums, EPs), Nominations, Performances, Awards, Impact, Collaborations, featuring are an added advantage.
10. MAGASCO
Remarkable Songs: Nyang Nyang Remix
After an explosive 2019, being the first Cameroonian singer to deliver a double album titled “HEART” Magasco opened the year 2020 by blessing our TV screens with the official video of “Calypso” featuring Mihney. The Bboy Records head honcho backed it up with videos to tracks like “ATM, Without Knife. He used the Covid-19 and lock down period to bless fans with the acoustic version of some of the amazing tracks on the album.
He closed the year with the remix of Nyang Nyang with Bikutsi heavyweight Lady Ponce. Magasco also graced Ach4Life rapper MiNk’s single Cam No Go with a superb hook.
The Sokoto crooner also won Best Album at the 2020 Green Light Awards, Best Urban Artiste at the MUMA awards and was decorated with a Medal of Honor by the Ministry of Arts and Culture. He also took part in the #EndAnglophoneCrisis protest in Yaoundé after the Kumba Massacre of October 24, 2020. He stays comfortably at our 10th position.
9. FHISH
Remarkable Songs: Njoh, Holla Holla (Video)
Head of Gophmen Fhish penetrated the year 2020 after ending 2019 with the official video of his single “Holla Holla” the song was another successful tune that kept us entertained during the lockdown. The singer took a break with videos and enriched his discography with his debut EP “I’m Cameroon”. Amazingly, the EP did well for the singer and he was an all rounder that same year. Notable tracks include, Kak Kak, Njoh and Patience.
The singer rounded up the year blessing TV screens of his fans with the official videos for “Njoh” featuring the legend Longue Longue and Patience. He bagged 4 nominations at the MUMA2020 for Best Performer, Best Male Artiste, Best Urban Artiste, Best Album/EP and 2 nominations for Best Collaboration and. Est EP/Album at the Green Light Awards.
It is safe to say his biggest trophy is his daughter Ivana Latimore. Fhish’s songs, consistency and widely acclaimed debut EP landed him on this list.
Remarkable Songs: Be Proud, Be Proud Remix
With just a hit single and a music video, singer Witty Minstrel gets a spot on our TOP10 Best Cameroonian artistes of 2020. Nobody actually saw him coming. Witty started the year 2020 with a club banger “Be Proud”. A hit song and anthem from the NSO tribe which he was able to package it to the world. He then followed it up with the official video of the song directed by Dr Nkeng Stephens, the criticisms of the song from fans pushed Witty to do another video which was a remix with some heavyweights like Magasco and Mr Leo. Other Cameroonian star artistes like Kameni, Vernyuy Tina, Awu and Gasha joint forces to spice up the already explosive joint.
Witty Minstrel sailed all round the speakers and TV screens with “Be Proud”. He won Best Artiste 2020 at the CAMACA Awards, and at the MUMA2020 he was nominated Best Traditional Artiste.
Remarkable Songs: Tchapeu Tchapeu
From a small neighborhood in the capital city of Cameroon, explodes a youngster singer Happy d’Efoulan who recorded a hit single “Tchapeu Tchapeu” and it was one of the biggest songs in 2020 that cut across the year 2021. Not only did this smashing single earn him a spot in our TOP 10 list, but the singer played a big role in exporting the new “Mbole” genre far and wide. He was nominated at the Balafon Music Awards for “Tune de Fin De L’annee”. Happy had an amazing year and we believe fans will be happy seeing him on the 7th position of this list.
Remarkable Songs: Quand Tu N’es Pa Là, Coeur en Cage
Charlotte Dipanda would have been around the 9th position of this list but her 2 notable singles “Quand Tu N’es Pas Là and Cœur en Cage featuring Singuila but the impulse of both songs brings her to the 6th position.
Her AFRIMMA 2020 nomination for Best Female Artiste Central Africa and Two nominations for the Urban Jamz Awards for Best Female Artiste and Best Female Voice also is a boost in this list.
5. LOCKO
Remarkable Songs: Même Même Choses, Au Marriage de ma Go
When it boils down to an artiste who took the opportunity of the Covid-19 pandemic, immobility and Lock down to entertain his fans, LOCKO comes first. The singer entered 2020 the hit single Même Même Choses. Followed by his Locked Up Series in which he released weekly from April 19th to May 17. LOCKO showed us his acting skills in the short film “Au Marriage de ma Go” and closed curtains of 2020 with the official video for “Au Marriage de ma Go”.
He bagged nominations at the Urban Jamz Awards 2020 for Best Male Artiste, Song of the Year with Hein Hein Hein ft Singuila. At the Balafon Music Awards, he took home awards for “Male Voice of the Year, Best Video Clip and Album of the Year. LOCKO is 5th on our list.
4. SALATIEL
Remarkable Songs: Touches Pas (Anita 2)
Alpha Better Records High Man General entered the year 2020 with a continuation of his popular ANITA story which saw Salatiel and Anita getting married. The wave success of his collaboration on Beyoncé The Lion King album sailed from 2019 to 2020 with the release of the official video of “Water” featuring Queen B and Pharrell Williams. The singer/producer then followed it up with the announcement of his debut album Africa Represented using the track “Vamos” featuring Guinean singer Soul Bangs.
The Africa Representative bagged one of Cameroon’s biggest brand ambassador deals with Cameroon’s top brewery brand “Union Camerounaise de Brasseries” (UCB) promoting the company’s quality brands like K44, the Madiba mineral water among others.
Salatiel was nominated at the 2020 Afrimma Award in the category for Best Producer. He also bagged 4 nominations at the Balafon Music Awards for the categories, “Vidéo Clip, Voix Masculin, Chanson de l’Année, Artiste Masculin de l’Année.
At the Muzikol Music Awards, Salatiel bagged 4 nominations for Best Song, Best African Artiste, Best Song Writer and Best Male Artiste winning Best Song Writer. This places him on our 4th position.
3. AVEIRO DJESS
Remarkable Songs: Le Nyama
Aveiro Djess will not have made it to this list if not of his incredible experiment on the hit song “Le Nyama”. In the first quarter of 2020, a month after the Covid-19 outbreak, Aveiro joined forces with singer Lucky +2 to release Zambé. He only made another statement when he released a tribute song to late Ivorian legend Arafat DJ. Saving the best for the last, the leader of Djess Gang followed up with the release of one of the biggest songs at the last quarter of 2020 “Le Nyama”. Le Nyama was widely played and well received across Africa making it one of the biggest Cameroonian songs of the year 2020.
The success of the song brought in 2 awards, “Tube des fêtes de fin de l’Année at the Balafon Music Awards, and Best Song of the Year at the 2020 MUMA Awards.
Remarkable Songs: Laisse Moi T’aimer
Nobody saw her coming, starting off the year 2020 on a collaboration with singer Nabila on “Amour et Espoir” which didn’t really breakthrough, Darina didn’t relent her efforts despite covid-19, lock-down and slow pace of things. By the 2nd half of 2020, the singer knocked out her fellow artistes on YouTube when she dropped her smashing hit single “Laisse Moi T’aimer”. The song according to YouTube statistics is the most watch music video in Cameroon in 2020 with over 28 million views.
The song ended up becoming Cameroon’s anthem for weddings. If the guest DJ didn’t have this particular song in any wedding they were been called to play at, then there’ll be no music at all. The song was recognized at the Balafon Music Awards as she bagged 3 for the categories “Revelation Feminine de l’Année, Chanson de l’Année and Voix Féminine de l’Année.
1. KO-C
Remarkable Songs: Mon Pala Pala, Caleçon, Ghana Must Go
Ko-c is unarguably our MVP for this season. The Power House Entertainment head honcho entered the year 2020 with an acoustic version of his hit song “Bollo C’est Bollo“ a résumé of his life, career and success at Big Dreams Entertainment and the beginning of a new era as an indie artiste. He later followed it up with his first smashing hit single at the first quarter of 2020 “Mon Pala Pala”.
The Serial Hit maker bagged a multi million francs endorsement deal with Financial Services Company “Express Union”. Followed by his experimentation with “President du Rapublique, an alphabetical rap song he pulled off smoothly.
At some point in 2020, Ko-c was already proving himself to be the hottest artist of 2020 when he released the collaboration “Ghana Must Go” with fellow artistes Cleo Grae, KIKOH, Kking Kum and Banye. He then followed it up with the biggest hit of his career so far “Caleçon” featuring Bikutsi heavyweight “Coco Argentée. The song is one of the hottest Cameroonian tunes on tiktok pulling heavy numbers on YouTube as well.
In terms of rewards and awards, Ko-c bagged 2 nominations at the Balafon Music Award for Best Video Clip and Male Artiste of the Year, walking him with the latter. With maybe an album or EP coming out from the Power House Entertainment 2021, there’s no sign KO-C will be slowing down anytime soon.
Here is our list for the TOP 10 Best Cameroonian Artistes(Musicians) of 2020, after reading what are your thoughts ? leave a comment behind.
Well, happy for the classifications. Very sensitive and great artist, happy to see Fhish among and I wish this should encourage him to come out with more hit songs for Cameroon. Thanks.
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