The Top Camerounian Songs of All-Time - Starting Eleven
I asked some friends to name their top 5 songs ever, from Cameroon. I do not have a Camerounian alter-ego, yet. I used what I have learnt around Museke. I also asked Google Gemini & other AI bots. You know AI is my friend these days right? I also contributed my top 5. I have never been to Cameroun, which is crazy. No, I have not been there for any weddings, even though my date for the senior ball in MIT was Camerounian. I learnt about Cameroonian music from her, others at MIT and then later at Stanford, and others I met during my time in the US, and traveling around the continent. Google helped during the Museke days too. I wanted to do a list of top 5, but there are too many songs. So I have aggregated 11, to represent Cameroun in the World Cup of #MusicWeDeyFeel. The starting eleven. Drop your opinions, props, suggestions in the comments section. Here we go, in no particular order, you can suggest who plays centre forward, sweeper, maestro, left wing back or goalkeeper in the comments.
Soul Makossa - Manu Dibango (1972)
This is from the album of the same name. The playmaker. The legend. If the beat sounds familiar, because you heard it sampled by Reggie Rockstone, Michael Jackson and Rihanna, then you are welcome. Apparently, the song was discovered in a New York record shop, and became one of the first disco records in the world. It earned a Grammy nomination and the sampling of its iconic chant, "Ma makossa," generated legendary lawsuits that went all the way to the United Nations, in New York.
This soul track dribbled past everyone – genre boundaries, language barriers, continents – and scored on the global stage. This track put Cameroonian on the world map. .In the Duala language of Cameroon, "Makossa" roughly translates to "I dance" or "I will dance". The jam was meant to support Cameroon’s hosting of the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament.
Coller La Petite – Franko (2015)
I did not know about this song until it appeared in the survey. Or maybe I heard it somewhere and did not realise it was a Camerounian song. Listen and you will see clearly why it was a viral hit. “Coller La Petite” exploded across Central and West Africa, not just thanks to Cameroon’s geographical location. It was certified gold in France and gained endorsements from African soccer stars like Didier Drogba.
The song’s title translates to “Stick To The Girl”. It ended up getting banned for indecency, with claims that it promoted "public indecency" and led to "unwanted pregnancies". There is a line that translates to "even if it's your sister... even if it's your cousin... just dance". Ce n’est pas bon. The grooves and vibes though, bon. This song is the speedster on the left wing. It has clocked more than 91 million views on YouTube.
People - Libianca (2022)
Well, you can guess the name of the album here too. This song struck a chord with me the first time I heard it. It had that raw emotion. I found out later that Libianca was a Camerounian who participated in American Idol. This song has more than 260 million Spotify streams, making it the most commercially successful Cameroonian song in the streaming era. She first gained public attention as a contestant on Season 21 of The Voice (USA) in 2021, reaching the Top 20. She won the BET Award for Best New International Act in 2023.
It's amazing how she captured the global mood of anxiety and hidden struggle. In the song, she sings, “Oh-oh, mm, mm, From Bamenda, it's Libianca” “I've been drinking more alcohol for the past five days, Did you check on me? Now, did you look for me?”. Depression is real for lots of people, we should check on people. Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji was born in Minnesota, and she moved to Bamenda, Cameroon at age four, where she spent a decade singing in church and boarding school before returning to the U.S. as a teenager.
Zangal̩wa РGolden Sounds (1986)
Original Waka. If the chorus sounds familiar, because you heard it by Shakira and Freshlyground for that #MzansiMundial hit, then you are welcome. This is probably the first Camerounian song I heard, growing up in Ghana. Its remake is one of the the biggest World Cup songs ever. Let’s make this song the central midfielder who is everywhere on the pitch. Or should it be the top striker like Roger Milla so it can also be danced to? Apparently, it is a playful military-inspired chant, what we might call jama in Ghana. It paid tribute to Africans who fought in World War II.
This was on the Zangaléwa album. You can’t help by sing-along, but in the tone and voice of the song, not your soprano or tenor. I’m shaking and swaying in my chair. The song blends several languages, including Fang, Ewondo, Duala, French, and Pidgin English. Zangaléwa translates to "Who called you?" (from Ewondo Za anga loé wa) or "Who sent you?" (from Fang Za engalomwa). Tsamina mina: Means "Come" or "Come here". Waka waka is from Pidgin English, around "walk while working".
Alane – Wes Madiko (1997, Welenga)
Now, this is a Camerounian classic I heard about. It’s infectious and became a global afro-pop smash that topped charts across Europe. Wes Madiko’s soaring vocals and uplifting rhythms made Alane one of the most recognizable Cameroonian songs worldwide.
The song by Wes is performed in Duala as well, and it talks about joy, unity, etc. "Alane" loosely translates to "flows like a fountain" and "dances inside" like a flame. It was part of Wes Madiko's debut album, Welenga, in late 1996.
Coucou – Charlotte Dipanda (2011)
"Coucou" by Charlotte Dipanda is a classic love song from Cameroon. From one of my favorite French speaking females, I know that "Coucou" means a casual "hello" in French, and Charlotte uses it as an intimate call to a loved one. The song was remade by Ulanda in 2023, reframing the song as a message of self-love and acceptance
It was released in 2011, as part of her sophomore album Dube L'am ("My Faith"). This Afro-pop ballad blends French and Duala. I knew Charlotte during the Museke hey days and she has remained extremely relevant in the music scene, working on popular collaborations with Koffi Olomide, Yemi Alade, Fally Ipupa, Davido, etc
Eyala - Richard Bona (1999)
This is a jazz ballad by the world-renowned Cameroonian bassist and vocalist Richard Bona. It was the opening track of his debut solo album, Scenes from My Life, also sung in Duala. I saw him perform once in a popular jazz festival in Accra, for which I was an influencer, thanks to Museke past and social media prowess.
Richard described the song as a "plea for communication" and it has an anti-war message with the lyrics suggesting that wars and violence occur because people fail to communicate effectively, using "guns rather than words". Eyala is a very beautiful and moving composition.
Mon Homme - Blanche Bailly (2025)
Blanche Bailly is one of the biggest Cameroonian stars currently. This song was just officially released in November 2025 but has warmed its way into many hearts and is becoming an all-time classic. Let’s call this track the right full back with a lot of speed. The song serves as an anthem for women standing by their partners. It has quickly become a staple at African weddings and celebrations. She is known in real life as Bailly Larinette Tatah. and was born in Kumba, Cameroon.
Paolo – Ko-C ft. Longue Longue (2023)
After its release in 2023, this song was everywhere in Cameroun and its conversations and communities elsewhere. Let’s call it the defensive midfielder like Kante. This song was part of Ko-C's debut album, Genesis, featuring a veteran Makossa icon, Longue Longue. Ko-C aka Kocee which originally stood for "Knock-out Christian" is known in real life as Collins Njang Mengu Collins.
The official music video stars comedian Godisz Fungwa as Paolo, showing how this character transitions from a wealthy big spender to someone struggling at the bottom of the social ladder. The term "Paolo" has entered local slang to describe someone who lives beyond their means for social validation. “L’argent don finish for bank o, if money no dey, your friend go go o!” The song inspired the #PaoloChallenge on social media, where fans and dancers recreated the song's rhythmic and moral message.
Ça fait mal - Petit Pays (1987)
Adolphe Claude Moundi holds the record for the highest album sales in Cameroon history. There are several songs from Petit Pays that were submitted in the survey but this song takes the cake. This was his first massive hit and the title track of his debut album. He became the "Turbo d'Afrique." It is a Makossa mainstay, dominating the airwaves ahead of the older, established Makossa guard of the 70s.
"Ça fait mal" (It hurts) is about the pain of betrayal and the bitterness of a broken heart. It is sung in Duala and French. In the 80s, most Makossa songs were purely upbeat party tracks, "Ça fait mal" stood out due its vulnerability and hurt messages, which touched the hearts of the Cameroonian public. For this reason, let’s put it as the attacking midfielder to melt hearts with silky skills.
Ami - Bébé Manga (1980)
The defensive rock with a powerful voice that could fill a stadium. Bébé Manga's "Ami" is foundational to the Makossa genre. I have heard multiple remakes of this song. It is one of the most covered African songs in history, with over 50 versions by artists including Manu Dibango, Papa Wemba, and Angélique Kidjo. This song itself was a remake of a 1962 radio hit by Ebanda Manfred as a message to a student in Yaoundé named Amié Brigitte Essomba. The title means "Friend" in French (Amie).
This song solidified Bebe Manga as the "voice of the 80s" and an inspiration for future female stars. It was an international phenomenon, selling over one million copies and earning Bebe Manga the prestigious "Maracas d'Or" award from SACEM in 1983. The central lyrics, "Amié, njika bunya so mo, oa mo o ma dubè no, na mba na tondi oa?", translate from Duala to: "Amié, when will you finally believe in my love?".
Sweet Mother - Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz (1976)
Sweet Mother got selected for the Nigerian team and the song was actually recorded by Rocafil Jazz in Nigeria. Prince Nico Mbarga was born in Abakaliki, Nigeria, to a Cameroonian father (François Mbarga) and a Nigerian mother (Comfort Akwaya Mbarga). We will have this here as a bonus, on the bench. If you do not play this song at an African party that includes mothers, the deejay is on a loooooooong thing.
Many thanks to friends like who contributed to this – Alain Nteff, Axelle Nzia, Bella, Cedric Atangana, Fawah Akwo, Jacqueline Mbus, Julie Maison, Kissita Achonduh, Labrenda SharpSword, Njamkou Astrid Noucti, Pelkins Ajanoh, Steveslil Njang. Have more #MusicWeDeyFeel to contribute? Drop a comment.
Check out this playlist of songs that were nominated, etc on YouTube.
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