If you like vintage, where he layered his voice, sang lovely melodies, and offered a gentle vibe that seemed to delve into both world music and jazz, then this collaboration between Cameroonian (who plays most of the instruments), from the Congo, and - all accomplished artists in their own right - is for you. While there's an occasional African sensibility to the music, as on 'Flutes,' it's toned down to offer a kind of global experience that can't be pinpointed to any one place.
Toto Bona Lokua have released a music video featuring the song ‘Ma Mama’. The video was directed by Katy Wang. The song appears in the new album titled ‘Bondeko’, scheduled for release January 19, 2018. Toto Bona Lokua is a trio formed by three leading world music artists: Gerald Toto (France), Richard Bona (Cameroon) and Lokua Kanza. Toto Bona Lokua: Bondeko – a seamless African trio. Cameroon’s Richard Bona, Congo’s Lokua Kanza and the Antilles’ Gerald Toto are all celebrated for their lithe vocals, which are here.
That they're all excellent singers is immediately apparent (listen to the harmonies on 'Na Ye' as an example), and the understated arrangements are there to support the vocals rather than stand alone. They give a relaxed blues-lite touch to 'Help Me' and sound soulful, but ultimately there's very little that sticks in the memory once the record's finished.
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Partizan director Katy Wang brings brings a soft and tactile child-like charm to this video for “Ma Mama” by Toto Bono Lokua, a French band made up of singers from French Martinique, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo. Katy Wang: “I was struck by the song’s innocence and playfulness. I immediately imagined lots of colors, patterns, and animals in a dreamy landscape. “I love the acapella in it, and the three voices of Gerald Toto, Richard Bona, and Lokua Kanza compliment each other so well. I like how the song is structured so that each vocal part tells its own part of the narrative” LABEL: No Format PRODUCTION: Partizan DIRECTOR: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Duncan Gaman PRODUCER: Leo Green ANIMATORS: Katy Wang, Lois De Silva, Martha Halliday, Hannah McNally, Maria Morris.