Golden Sounds

Golden Sounds, also known as Zangalewa, was a makossa group from Cameroon. It was created in 1984 by active members of Cameroon's presidential guard, Jean Paul Zé Bella, Dooh Belley, Luc Eyebe and Emile Kojidie. The men in the group provided comical musical entertainment, often dressing in military uniforms, wearing pith helmets and stuffing their clothes with pillows to appear like they had swollen bottoms from riding the train and fat stomachs from eating too much. The band is most famous for its song, "Zangalewa", which was a huge hit in Africa after its release in 1986. The song was also popular in Colombia where it was known as "The Military", and brought to the country by West African DJs. The song made their band so popular that they later changed the name of their group to Zangalewa, which means in Ewondo, a Cameroonian language, "Who Called You?" (Za'nga'lowa).

Two civilians, Robert Kero and the female singer Annie Anzouer and later joined the group. In 1993, Annie Anzouer was replaced in the lineup by Viviane Etienne. Etienne also left the group afterwards to pursue a solo career. The group also consists of several other supporting members.

In 2010, Shakira's collaboration with Freshlyground for the 2010 World Cup, produced the song "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" as a tribute to African music. She has been inspired by the music of Ze Bella and his friends.

Jean Paul ze Bella has since retired from the presidential guard in 2002 after 30 years of service, but his song stands as an icon of Cameroonian military history.

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