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Dina Bell
(Cameroon)
Biography
Dina Bell is born in a musical family in Douala-Akwa. He grew up in the same city and went
to school and college in Akwa. Second son of a family of 7 children, he started singing in a church choir.
This interfered with his law study and he soon abandoned university. In 1978, he recorded his first album
« Yoma Yoma » that was released in Cameroon without his approval, while Dina
was in France. The album was a considerable success though, and he released several albums throughout the 1980s.
During that decade, he was among the most important makossa singers, with his melodic but pure makossa and his
sweet voice.
With the downfall of makossa, Dina Bell's career suffered and the presence of pirated copies of his latest album had a demoralising effect on the artist. He lives the better part of the year in France, and spends the rest in Cameroon. In recent years, he has created a recording studio and he plans to dedicate much of his time to young artists and promote their talents, he will therefore spend more time in Cameroon. In February 2004, he was attacked by four men when coming home late at night. He was brought in hospital with head injuries and a broken arm. After a short coma in a Douala hospital, he recovered quickly.
Musicians on the album "Mélodies roses":
Dina Bell lead vocals;
Guy Bilong drums, programming, percussion;
Rigo Star guitar;
Syllo Ekwe guitar;
Ambassa Moustique guitar;
Toto Guillaume guitar;
Hilaire Penda bass;
Touré Aladji bass, arrangments;
Jean-Yves Messan bass;
Smith Hallaire percussion;
Phillipe Guez keyboards;
Alain Hatot, Eric Josseran (=Giausserand), Jacques Bolognesi brass;
Grace Decca, Monique Lesueur, Barbara Akabla, Ndedi Dibango backing vocals.
Born: as Charles Dina Ebongue, 28 May 1953, in Douala, Cameroon
Style: Makossa
With the downfall of makossa, Dina Bell's career suffered and the presence of pirated copies of his latest album had a demoralising effect on the artist. He lives the better part of the year in France, and spends the rest in Cameroon. In recent years, he has created a recording studio and he plans to dedicate much of his time to young artists and promote their talents, he will therefore spend more time in Cameroon. In February 2004, he was attacked by four men when coming home late at night. He was brought in hospital with head injuries and a broken arm. After a short coma in a Douala hospital, he recovered quickly.
Musicians on the album "Mélodies roses":
Dina Bell lead vocals;
Guy Bilong drums, programming, percussion;
Rigo Star guitar;
Syllo Ekwe guitar;
Ambassa Moustique guitar;
Toto Guillaume guitar;
Hilaire Penda bass;
Touré Aladji bass, arrangments;
Jean-Yves Messan bass;
Smith Hallaire percussion;
Phillipe Guez keyboards;
Alain Hatot, Eric Josseran (=Giausserand), Jacques Bolognesi brass;
Grace Decca, Monique Lesueur, Barbara Akabla, Ndedi Dibango backing vocals.
Born: as Charles Dina Ebongue, 28 May 1953, in Douala, Cameroon
Style: Makossa
Georges Dickson
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Rebirth | 2009 | Bazor BAZ 080 | CD |
| The best of Dina Bell Volume 1 | 2004 | Compilation | |
| Tobo Tobo | 2002 | Mélodie / Bazor BAZ 060 | CD |
| Millenium Collection Volume 1 | 200? | Bazor | CD |
| Tempête !!! | 1999 | Simon Music SIPE | CD |
| Silencieusement | 1999 | Mélodie | |
| Nika na nika | 1998 | Preya Music | CD |
| The very best of Dina Bell | 1997 | Mélodie | Compilation |
| La force tranquille : L'essentiel | 1991 | Sono/Next Music 49911 | LP/CD/Cassette |
| Mélodies roses | 1988 | Haissam Records MH 108 | LP |
| Poko Poko | 1986 | Bazor BAZ040 | LP |
| Blow | 1984 | Bazor BAZ030 | LP |
| Etom'Am | 1983 | Bazor BAZ020 | LP |
| Longè | 1981 | Bazor BAZ010 | LP |
| Mbemb'a Iyo | 1980 | Ebeny ERI 01 | LP |
| Yoma Yoma | 1978 | Azengue Productions | 12" Maxi-Single |
Sources
http://makossaoriginal.blogspot.com/2012/05/dina-bell-35-ans-de-carriere.html
http://makossaoriginal.blogspot.com/2012/05/dina-bell-35-ans-de-carriere.html
Page added December 2007