AFRICAN MUSIC, WORLD JAZZ, BANTU/BAKA AND THE LANGUAGE OF TONES – FEATURING ASSIKO MUSIC AND DANCE

AFRICAN MUSIC, WORLD JAZZ, BANTU/BAKA AND THE LANGUAGE OF TONES – FEATURING ASSIKO MUSIC AND DANCE

Atna Njock Zekuhl
Acoustic/Electric Multidisciplinary Performance – Led by the Nkuu Drum with flexible arrangements ranging from solo, duo, and trio to ensembles of up to nine musicians.

Atna Njock Zekuhl, a grandson of a traditional chief and originally from Cameroon, is an innate bearer of ancestral wisdom known as "Mbok Hop Makin," the Language of Tones. This tradition uses rhythm and sound to convey coded messages, aligning energies, frequencies, and electromagnetic vibrations. It has been practiced since ancient times for social rituals, celebrations, and therapeutic sessions promoting well-being and balance.

A multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, vocalist, and expert in ancestral sound therapy, Atna is a master of the Nkuu Drum (also known as the African telephone). He is deeply rooted in the musical traditions of various African ethnicities, including his Bàsàa tribe and the Baka (Pygmies) of Cameroon. Over time, he has incorporated influences from pop, classical, jazz, and contemporary world music.

Since the 1990s, Atna Njock Zekuhl has been a key figure on the African music scene in Quebec. His distinct and innovative style blends African music with world jazz, rooted in the wisdom of the Language of Tones and drawing from both Indigenous and contemporary global influences.

His original compositions are rhythmic, harmonious, poetic, danceable, and therapeutic, incorporating manguèn(mantras) inspired by the Language of Tones. These works convey messages about consciousness, intercultural exchange, and human connection. They are performed in onomatopoeia, as well as in Bàsàa, English, and French.