Explore Assiko on Josplay Music The form and style of Assiko music found in Cameroon may vary slightly from other variations of the genre found in other parts of Africa. However, in general, Assiko music is characterized by its fast tempo, energetic rhythms, and catchy melodies. Assiko music is typically structured around a repeating pattern of bars, with each bar consisting of a varying number of beats. The form and style of Assiko music found in Cameroon is characterized by its fast tempo, energetic rhythms, and catchy melodies, which come together to create a lively and energetic sound.
A Cameroonian genre that combines the voice of a vocalist with a guitar accompaniment and a percussionist playing the Assiko rhythm on a bottle with metal. The bottle is an essential element in the Assiko music genre. Assiko music performers use bottles as a creative and expressive tool to add depth and complexity to their music and to help convey the emotions and sentiments of the song.
Assiko, specifically from the Bassa people in southern Cameroon, centers on the instrumentation between the glass bottle and the guitar. The name Assiko derives from the Bassa words “Issi” (earth) and “Go” (foot), referring to the traditional dance. This genre emerged over 100 years ago when Portuguese sailors introduced the acoustic guitar to the region, blending it with the local Ngola rhythm. Assiko became a rhythm for celebrations, performed by traveling guitarists across towns like Eséka, Mésondo, and Edéa, as well as Bassa neighborhoods in Douala.
Jean Bikoko Aladin, known as the father of modern Assiko, stands out as one of Central Africa’s finest yet under-recognized guitar masters. Other notable figures include Samson Chaud Gars, Kon Mbogos, and contemporary artists like Empereur (“Nkaa Nkunde”), Defense, Monika (Telbana, Assiko Gospel), and Olivier de Clovis.
Jean Bikoko Aladin, known as the father of modern Assiko, stands out as one of Central Africa’s finest yet under-recognized guitar masters. Other notable figures include Samson Chaud Gars, Kon Mbogos, and contemporary artists like Empereur (“Nkaa Nkunde”), Defense, Monika (Telbana, Assiko Gospel), and Olivier de Clovis.
The dance style gained significant popularity around the 1920s, spreading beyond Cameroon to other parts of West Africa. A lesser-known variant of Assiko exists on the Island Gorée, in Senegal, where enslaved people from regions including Congo, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, and Nigeria shared songs to endure daily hardships. However, the Cameroonian form of Assiko enjoys broader recognition.
The songs commonly feature a lead performer singing for the most part. Other forms feature a verse-chorus structure, with the verse presenting the main theme of the song and the chorus serving as a catchy, memorable hook.
The lyrics of Assiko songs often deal with themes of love, relationships, and various social, political and religious issues, and the singing style is often used to convey the emotions and sentiments associated with these themes.
In Cameroon, Assiko music may be influenced by a variety of cultural factors, including traditional African music, European popular music, and the musical traditions of other African countries. It is often played with electric guitars, keyboards, brass instruments, and percussion, and may feature a wide range of musical styles and influences.
Assiko presents a generally energetic and lively timbre, with a wide range of instruments contributing to its rich, complex sound.
Assiko music is typically structured around a 4/4 rhythm and a repeating pattern of bars, with each bar consisting of a varying number of beats. The rhythms in Assiko music are often complex and feature a variety of syncopated patterns, and are played by the drums, percussion instruments, and electric guitars. The melodies in Assiko music are typically carried by the vocals and the lead instruments, such as the electric guitar and keyboard. The melodies are often catchy and memorable and are often supported by harmonies sung by the chorus.