Pierre Akendengue is the most famous musician in Gabon. This musician, poet and philosopher is just as important a cultural ambassador as, for example, Francis Bebey (Cameroon) or Youssou N'Dour (Senegal). He was born in Awouta in 1943. He completed high school in the capital Libreville. In Paris he went to study psychology, musicology and physiotherapy. Akendengue spent some time in exile in France
… because of his critical attitude towards the Gabonese government. The gradually blind musician made his debut with Nandipo in 1974 and established a name as a humorous songwriter with philosophical depths. From 1985, Akendengue was able to resettle in Gabon. Gorée is the title of his fifteenth album. Gorée is also the name of a Senegalese island strategically located in the slave route. Gorée symbolizes for Akendengue the fight against the slave trade and the violation of human rights and that is what his lyrics are about. The combative humanist packages his message in accessible swinging music in which the musical influences of the Pygmies in the tropical jungle can be heard. (SvdP)more
