Landry Biaba

Landry Biaba
Singer, Guitarist, Composer
Principal country concerned : Column : Music, Intercultural/migrations

Landry Biaba (Serge Landry Mbiaba), composer, singer and guitarist, was born in Douala, Cameroon. As a child he made his first guitar using strands of bowden cable from bicycle brakes as strings, and he developed a very early interest in the traditional instruments of his country. His musical style is an original fusion of bosa nova, jazz and classical, blended with his homeland's traditional rhythms: Bikutsi and Mangambeu.

His meetings with musicians such as Lokua Kanza, Fémi Kuti, Rodolphe Burger and Richard Bona were equally inspiring for him and he is supported in his musical research by Nadia Derrar, director of the French Cultural Centre in Douala.

Despite his lack of formal training, in the years following 2000 Landry was acknowledged as one of the best musicians in Cameroon's capital. In 2006 he was accepted into the National Conservatoire of Strasbourg to complete his formation as a jazz musician.

Landry's musical accomplishments to date are numerous, as is shown in both his solo performances and in his work with ensembles. He takes us beyond any cultural or geographical borders and invites us to explore his rich and complex musical world.

Landry Biaba has organised many workshops with musicians from classical and jazz backgrounds which have led to performances in major venues. One such was "Grassfield" in June 2009 and 2010 at Conservatoire de Strasbourg concert hall.

His group is composed of five musicians: Maxime RONCART - guitar, Lionel GALONNIER - percussion, Samine SAHBAI - piano and Rhodes piano, Lionel EHRHART -bass guitar, and Landry composition, vocals and guitar.

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

With the support of