TOODANA - Atna Njock

AFRICAN MUSIC, WORLD JAZZ, BANTOU/BAKA, AND THE TONAL LANGUAGE TRADITION – WITH MUSIC AND ASSIKO DANCE

Atna Njock Zekuhl presents an acoustic/electric multidisciplinary show, guided by the Nkuu Drum, with performances ranging from solo to ensembles of up to nine musicians.

A native of Cameroon and grandson of a traditional chief, Zekuhl is a natural bearer of ancestral wisdom, embodying the "Mbok Hop Makin," a tonal language tradition. This rhythmic communication system aligns energies and vibrations, used for encoded messages, social rituals, and therapeutic gatherings. A master of the Nkuu drum (known as the "African telephone"), he also plays multiple instruments, sings, and specializes in ancestral sound therapy. His music draws from the traditions of various African ethnic groups, including his own Bàsàa tribe and the Baka people of Cameroon, as well as influences from pop, classical, jazz, and contemporary world music.

Since the 1990s, Zekuhl has been a prominent figure on the African music scene in Quebec, crafting a distinctive fusion of African music with Bantou/Baka world jazz. His performances blend rhythmic, poetic, and therapeutic compositions, often delivered as mantras (manguèn) and sung in onomatopoeia, Bàsàa, English, and French. Through his work, Zekuhl promotes intercultural connection, consciousness awakening, and harmony.