Prince Nico Mbarga (1 January 1950 – 24 June 1997) was a highlife musician,… Read Full Bio ↴Prince Nico Mbarga (1 January 1950 – 24 June 1997) was a highlife musician, born to a Nigerian mother and a Cameroonian father in Abakaliki, Nigeria.
His music was inspired by the five years he spent in Cameroon during the Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960's. He played the xylophone, conga, drums, and electric guitar in school bands and he made his professional debut as a member of a hotel band, the Melody Orchestra, in 1970.
Although he only recorded one significant hit, "Sweet Mother," in 1976, which sold more than 13 million copies (and which is recognised as one of Africa's greatest songs), Mbarga played an important role in the evolution of African popular music. With his soulful vocals set to the light melodies of his acoustic guitar, Mbarga created a unique hybrid of Igbo and Congolese guitar playing and uplifting highlife rhythms. He formed his own group, Rocafil Jazz, to perform regularly at the Naza Hotel in the eastern Nigerian city of Onitsha.
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, which became a regional hit. 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".[1]
Sung in Pidgin English, "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.
Temporarily relocating to England in 1982, Mbarga became known for his flamboyant, 1970s glam rock-inspired performances. While he continued to appear with Rocafil Jazz, Mbarga also performed with London-based highlife band the Ivory Coasters and Cameroonian vocalist Louisiana Tilda. Despite launching his own Polydor-distributed record label, upon returning to Nigeria, Mbarga and the original members of Rocafil Jazz separated after several Cameroon-born members were deported. Although he later formed the New Rocafil Jazz Band, Mbarga failed to match his early success. Leaving music, he turned his attention to managing the two hotels that he owned, Hotel Calbar and the Sweet Mother Hotel.
Prince Nico Mbarga was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 24, 1997, leaving behind "Sweet Mother" as the most popular song amongst Nigerians[1]. Sweet Mother is sometimes called Africa's anthem and has been voted Africa's favourite song by BBC readers and listeners.
His music was inspired by the five years he spent in Cameroon during the Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960's. He played the xylophone, conga, drums, and electric guitar in school bands and he made his professional debut as a member of a hotel band, the Melody Orchestra, in 1970.
Although he only recorded one significant hit, "Sweet Mother," in 1976, which sold more than 13 million copies (and which is recognised as one of Africa's greatest songs), Mbarga played an important role in the evolution of African popular music. With his soulful vocals set to the light melodies of his acoustic guitar, Mbarga created a unique hybrid of Igbo and Congolese guitar playing and uplifting highlife rhythms. He formed his own group, Rocafil Jazz, to perform regularly at the Naza Hotel in the eastern Nigerian city of Onitsha.
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, which became a regional hit. 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".[1]
Sung in Pidgin English, "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.
Temporarily relocating to England in 1982, Mbarga became known for his flamboyant, 1970s glam rock-inspired performances. While he continued to appear with Rocafil Jazz, Mbarga also performed with London-based highlife band the Ivory Coasters and Cameroonian vocalist Louisiana Tilda. Despite launching his own Polydor-distributed record label, upon returning to Nigeria, Mbarga and the original members of Rocafil Jazz separated after several Cameroon-born members were deported. Although he later formed the New Rocafil Jazz Band, Mbarga failed to match his early success. Leaving music, he turned his attention to managing the two hotels that he owned, Hotel Calbar and the Sweet Mother Hotel.
Prince Nico Mbarga was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 24, 1997, leaving behind "Sweet Mother" as the most popular song amongst Nigerians[1]. Sweet Mother is sometimes called Africa's anthem and has been voted Africa's favourite song by BBC readers and listeners.
Onye Ori Obi
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz:
A1 Sweet Mother Rocafil Jazz presenting you Sweet mother Sweet mother, I no…
Aki Special Yeah Akie, Akie Akie, Akie Yes! Akie, oh Akie, Akie,…
Sweet Mother Rocafil Jazz presenting you Sweet mother Sweet mother, I no…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Prince Nico Mbarga:
Aki Special Yeah Akie, Akie Akie, Akie Yes! Akie, oh Akie, Akie,…
Family Movement Dios no crea mujeres para estar debajo de los hombres Así…
Sweet Mother Rocafil Jazz presenting you Sweet mother Sweet mother, I no…
Wayo In-law Mo mo say mo mo mo say mother yes sir You…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@vidalbenjamin948
I fail in love with this song 90's still remembered when my dad get home with cow leg and presented it to my mom with this lovely song .... till now it's still one of the best ever
@bushdoctor28031967
Whenever I heard this song on my dad's National Panasonic radio as a child, I often wondered how a human beign could steal another person's heart. Now I am a man, and now I know how. A great song from one of the masters of African R n B. Rest in peace, Nico.
@abdulbakarr-kanu6527
nwakamma ikponsi
@mecuroy
very true
@lilwill8675
BARRANQUILLA - COLOMBIA, I LOVE AFRIKA
@akino4116
It's 2022 and nothing has changed, Prince Nico still captivates me. Cheers!!!
@serybaitheodore1514
toute mon enfance musicale se résume à ce terrible musicien. je sais chanter sans rien comprendre!!
@jorgemartinezmendoza1659
Mi cantante africano preferido q enseñanza nos dejo gracias pricipe rip
@haroldpepete
This song i hear about 10 times every day, this song don't tire me, when i hear from the beginning always love it, in my whole life more or less one million times, everything in Prince Nico Mbarga is magic, each song is unique and different
@paulinamundumba1
Estou sempre a ouvir