Nico Mbarga (1 January 1950 – 23 June 1997),[1] better known as Prince Nico Mbarga, was a Cameroonian-Nigerian highlife musician, born to a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father in Abakaliki, Nigeria.[2] He is renowned for his hit song "Sweet Mother", recorded with his band Rocafil Jazz, which has been described as the best-selling song in history by an African recording artist.[3]
Mbarga was survived by 10 surviving children; Nico, Descrow, Estelle, Slimphilz, Pauline, Joan, Lillian, Lucy, Lionel, and Nicoline. In 2011, Pauline, one of his children passed on following a brief illness making nine remaining children.[4] Among the nine Mbarga’s surviving children, only Nico, Descrow, Estelle and Slimphilz are actively involved in music and working to promote their late father’s ‘panco’ style of music. Joan, Lillian, Lucy, Lionel, and Nicoline are said to be either currently engaged in doing business or working white collar jobs at the Nigerian civil service commission.[5]
Music
He played the xylophone, conga, drums, bass guitar and electric guitar. He first started playing in school bands and he made his professional debut as a member of a hotel band, the Melody Orchestra, in 1970.[1]
Career
Early years
Although he only recorded one significant hit, "Sweet Mother," in 1976, which sold more than 13 million copies, Mbarga played an important role in the evolution of African popular music.[1] With his soulful vocals set to the light melodies of his acoustic guitar, Mbarga created a unique hybrid of Nigerian and Congolese guitar playing and uplifting highlife rhythms.[1] He formed his own group, Rocafil Jazz, to perform regularly at the Plaza Hotel in the eastern Nigerian city of Onitsha.[1]
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", a regional hit.[1] 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".[6]
Sung in Pidgin, "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.[1]
Later years
On a repeat tour to England in 1982, Mbarga became known for his flamboyant, 1970s glam rock-inspired performances.[1] 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.[1] Despite Mbarga launching his own Polydor-distributed record label, upon his return to Nigeria, he and the original members of Rocafil Jazz separated after some disagreements.[1] Although he later formed the New Rocafil Jazz Band, Mbarga failed to match his early success.[1] Leaving music, he turned his attention to managing the four-star hotel that he owned, the Sweet Mother Hotel,[1] located in the town of Ikom in Cross River State Nigeria, just minutes away from the Cameroon-Nigeria border.
Death
Prince Nico Mbarga was killed in a motorcycle accident on 23rd June 1997 in Calabar while trying to buy spare parts for his car along the ever busy Mayne Avenue Road, leaving behind "Sweet Mother" as the most popular song among Nigerians.[2] "Sweet Mother" is sometimes called "Africa's anthem" and has been voted Africa's favourite song by BBC readers and listeners.
^"His Biggest Hit Sold More Copies Than Any of the Beatles'. So Why Haven't You Heard of Him?". Narratively.com. 26 June 2017.
^"Prince Nico Mbarga's Children Marks Father's Anniversary With A Concert". Leadership News - Nigeria News, Breaking News, Politics and more. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
^"'Sweet Mother' crooner, Prince Nico Mbarga, immortalised in Calabar | Premium Times Nigeria". 8 January 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
^"Nigeria NigeriaExchange - Entertainment -> Profiles". Ngex.com.
External links
Sweet Mother is Africa's anthem
Sweet Mother lyrics
"Radio Netherlands interviews Prince Nico Mbarga", Radio Netherlands Archives
January 03, 2023
prince, nico, mbarga, nico, mbarga, january, 1950, june, 1997, better, known, cameroonian, nigerian, highlife, musician, born, nigerian, mother, cameroonian, father, abakaliki, nigeria, renowned, song, sweet, mother, recorded, with, band, rocafil, jazz, which,. Nico Mbarga 1 January 1950 23 June 1997 1 better known as Prince Nico Mbarga was a Cameroonian Nigerian highlife musician born to a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father in Abakaliki Nigeria 2 He is renowned for his hit song Sweet Mother recorded with his band Rocafil Jazz which has been described as the best selling song in history by an African recording artist 3 Prince Nico MbargaBirth nameNico MbargaAlso known asPrince NicoBorn 1950 01 01 1 January 1950OriginObubra Cross River State NigeriaDied23 June 1997 1997 06 23 aged 47 GenresHighlifeOccupation s Singer songwriter record producerYears active1970 1997 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Music 3 Career 3 1 Early years 3 2 Later years 4 Death 5 Sample 6 References 7 External linksPersonal life EditMbarga was survived by 10 surviving children Nico Descrow Estelle Slimphilz Pauline Joan Lillian Lucy Lionel and Nicoline In 2011 Pauline one of his children passed on following a brief illness making nine remaining children 4 Among the nine Mbarga s surviving children only Nico Descrow Estelle and Slimphilz are actively involved in music and working to promote their late father s panco style of music Joan Lillian Lucy Lionel and Nicoline are said to be either currently engaged in doing business or working white collar jobs at the Nigerian civil service commission 5 Music EditHe played the xylophone conga drums bass guitar and electric guitar He first started playing in school bands and he made his professional debut as a member of a hotel band the Melody Orchestra in 1970 1 Career EditEarly years Edit Although he only recorded one significant hit Sweet Mother in 1976 which sold more than 13 million copies Mbarga played an important role in the evolution of African popular music 1 With his soulful vocals set to the light melodies of his acoustic guitar Mbarga created a unique hybrid of Nigerian and Congolese guitar playing and uplifting highlife rhythms 1 He formed his own group Rocafil Jazz to perform regularly at the Plaza Hotel in the eastern Nigerian city of Onitsha 1 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 a regional hit 1 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 6 Sung in Pidgin 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 1 Later years Edit On a repeat tour to England in 1982 Mbarga became known for his flamboyant 1970s glam rock inspired performances 1 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 1 Despite Mbarga launching his own Polydor distributed record label upon his return to Nigeria he and the original members of Rocafil Jazz separated after some disagreements 1 Although he later formed the New Rocafil Jazz Band Mbarga failed to match his early success 1 Leaving music he turned his attention to managing the four star hotel that he owned the Sweet Mother Hotel 1 located in the town of Ikom in Cross River State Nigeria just minutes away from the Cameroon Nigeria border Death EditPrince Nico Mbarga was killed in a motorcycle accident on 23rd June 1997 in Calabar while trying to buy spare parts for his car along the ever busy Mayne Avenue Road leaving behind Sweet Mother as the most popular song among Nigerians 2 Sweet Mother is sometimes called Africa s anthem and has been voted Africa s favourite song by BBC readers and listeners Sample Edit Music sample source source Sweet Mother by Prince Nico Mbarga Problems playing this file See media help References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Prince Nico Mbarga Biography Songs amp Albums AllMusic Retrieved 28 September 2021 a b Prince Nico Mbarga at NigeriaExchange His Biggest Hit Sold More Copies Than Any of the Beatles So Why Haven t You Heard of Him Narratively com 26 June 2017 Prince Nico Mbarga s Children Marks Father s Anniversary With A Concert Leadership News Nigeria News Breaking News Politics and more 10 January 2018 Retrieved 18 October 2021 Sweet Mother crooner Prince Nico Mbarga immortalised in Calabar Premium Times Nigeria 8 January 2018 Retrieved 18 October 2021 Nigeria NigeriaExchange Entertainment gt Profiles Ngex com External links EditSweet Mother is Africa s anthem Sweet Mother lyrics Radio Netherlands interviews Prince Nico Mbarga Radio Netherlands Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prince Nico Mbarga amp oldid 1106618018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
