Real Name:
Nico Mbarga
Music Genre:
Highlife
Record Label:
RAS (Rogers All Stars LTD)
Date of birth:
01-01-1950 to 06-24-1997
Age:
75
Nationality:
NIGERIA
Prince Nico Mbarga
- Background
- Break
- Did you know?
Nico Mbarga was a highlife musician, born to a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father in Abakaliki, Nigeria. He is renowned for his hit song "Sweet Mother", recorded with his band Rocafil Jazz. He played the xylophone, conga, drums, and electric guitar in school bands and he made his professional debut as a member of a hotel band, the Melody Orchestra, in 1970.
Although he only recorded one significant hit, "Sweet Mother," in 1976, which sold more than 13 million copies (and which is recognised as one of Africa's greatest songs), Mbarga played an important role in the evolution of African popular music. With his soulful vocals set to the light melodies of his acoustic guitar, Mbarga created a unique hybrid of Igbo and Congolese guitar playing and uplifting highlife rhythms. He formed his own group, Rocafil Jazz, to perform regularly at the Plaza Hotel in the eastern Nigerian city of Onitsha
After releasing a disappointing single in 1973, Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz had their first success with their second single, I No Go Marry My Papa, which became a regional hit. The band's inability to break past their local following resulted in their recording contract being dropped by EMI, a decision that proved ill-fortuned when the band signed with Rogers All Stars, a Nigerian recording company based in Onitsha, and recorded "Sweet Mother".
Sung in Pidgin English, "Sweet Mother" became one of the top sellers in the history of Nigerian music. In the six years that Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz remained with Rogers All Stars, 1975 to 1981, they recorded nine albums.
On a repeat tour to England in 1982, Mbarga became known for his flamboyant, 1970s glam rock-inspired performances. While he continued to appear with Rocafil Jazz, Mbarga also performed with London-based highlife band the Ivory Coasters and former Rocafil Jazz member, Cameroonian vocalist Louisiana Tilda. Despite launching his own Polydor-distributed record label, upon returning to Nigeria, Mbarga and the original members of Rocafil Jazz separated after some disagreements. Although he later formed the New Rocafil Jazz Band, Mbarga failed to match his early success. Leaving music, he turned his attention to managing the 4-star hotel that he owned, the Sweet Mother Hotel, located in the town of Ikom just minutes away from the Cameroon-Nigeria border.
Prince Nico came into the lime light with the release of Sweet Mother in 1976
Did you know Prince Nico Mbarga was killed in a motorcycle accident?
Did you know Sweet Mother is sometimes called Africa's anthem and has been voted Africa's favorite song by BBC readers and listeners?
Discography
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Man Don Tire
Released in 1975
Produced by RAS
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Aki Special
Released in 1976
Produced by RAS | Rounder Records | Decca
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Free Education in Nigeria
Released in 1977
Produced by RAS | Rounder Records | Decca
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Good Father
Released in 1978
Produced by RAS | Decca
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Another Woman's Husband
Released in 1978
Produced by RAS | EMI | Pathe Marconi
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No Die No Rest
Released in 1978
Produced by RAS
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Family Movement
Released in 1981
Produced by RAS
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Cool Money
Released in 1981
Produced by RAS
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Experience 001
Released in 1981
Produced by RAS
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Music Message
Released in 1981
Produced by Nico Records
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Lucky Marriage!
Released in 1982
Produced by RAS
References
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Nico_Mbarga
http://biochem.chem.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~endo/EANico.html
http://africaribe.blogspot.com/
Singles
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1976
Title Album Sweet Mother Aki Special