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.
Simplicity
Prince Nico Mbarga & Rocafil Jazz Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Simplicity' by these artists:
1/2 Mad Poet Simplicity inna mi house Children en sav sé mwen pou…
Altar of Sacrifice Lyrics: Boij Music: Karlberg Here my cries, thus I beh…
Bob Seger Simplicity it works for me It keeps me runnin' hard, and…
Broken Fences Are you ready to go out Or do you think it's…
Corey Hart Simplicity, gentle words touching me Speaking in my tongue …
david - c Hey Mr Jay They were happy days Your flashing…
Elisa If I could fly I'd come to see you wherever…
Friedensreich Sometimes we just want to let everything go, realizing the…
G. Money Over here we with the shits Got somethin in my…
hidingthehurt You captured everything I like Sent off the photos for me Sa…
I.M.A A melody whereby I have made success in all my…
Lowe I'm good, I'm bad, I'm all there is I am your…
Mara & David When I don't know how to live my life You take…
Metus Wisdom lays in simplicity who's aware of it? Could life f…
Mose Life is just complex cimplicity Thug it out (Verse 1) Every…
Naâman Working hard under the sun from morning Girl when my time…
Nahko & Medicine For The People Simplicity Simplicity Simplicity Definitely becomin' me, be…
Netanel Goldberg I feel you talking to my soul I see you I love…
On&On Working hard under the sun from morning Girl when my time…
Paul Maged Simplicity I wonder if you do remember me I always held you…
Poker Face/d A melody whereby I have made success in all my…
Quintessential Upon the Highest mountain Where life is self-sustaining Simp…
Ras Al-I Simplicity inna mi house Children en sav sé mwen pou…
Reason to Believe Now I lay me down to sleep I wonder if you're…
Rend Collective I come in simplicity Longing for purity To worship you In…
Rotten Sound Work gives everything one ever needs Vacations have become o…
Sizzla Simplicity Black people keep your hands up. Emperor Selasie…
Souls I sneak into your room And steal your favorite tie Cause…
The Ace Of Cups You, light You are simplicity Close my eyes If you're not…
The Dignity of Labour Transition from the airwaves to the ground Too many voices …
The Real Group How happy is the little stone That rambles in the road…
The Rend Collective I come in simplicity Longing for purity To worship You In sp…
The Souls I sneak into your room And steal your favorite tie Cause…
Third World Simplicity That's the way I want it to be Simplicity Easy as…
Tim Curry I try every way I know to tell you I run…
Tomii Chan Will we see the end In this crazy trend Say something Anyth…
Toshi 今日は何もしたくない こんな午後は 生真面目な時計はずし 久し振りのお昼寝 おひさまのシャワー浴びて ぬくぬくもり包まれ…
W.D. Stevens A melody whereby I have made success in all my…
Yam Haus I'm in love with every moment And this is paradise for…
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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@espoirlemarabout4845
Oui, suis d'accord. Un vrai artiste dans tous les sens, bien sur SANS aucun doute la-dessus.
Remind me of the good old days in the neighborhood in LOME II''s Aguiarkome, Asiganto in the 70's and also when we were on the road with L' EQUIPE NATIONALE DU TOGO et L' EQUIPE UNIVERSITAIRE DE L' UNIVERSITE DU BENIN aka BENIN UNIVERSITY CLUB.
A tous les copains et co-equipiers des anneees 70.
MERCI, sante, longue vie, bonheur, succes, longevite.
BEST WISHES,
MEILLEURS VOEUX
@samsonaby
Ecouter Prince Nico c'est revivre mon enfance dans un petit village de Divo dans les annees 70 et cela me rappelle une foret de souvenirs.je ne peux vous remercier de nous resourcer de temps en temps. Je ne sais s'il vit tjs, dans tous grand merci a ce monsieurs pour la joie qu'il a donne a plusieurs generations par son art. Chapeau...
@adamansorgo5393
Malheureusement il.semble qu'il n'est plus....
@scottanyouzoa994
Il est mort au Nigeria suite à un accident
@kainjamahun1050
No worries, we will all still live together alongside. Making sure institutional abuse,mestology, and rascim are maintained.
@angeliquendouna4439
Tout comme moi
@espoirlemarabout4845
Oui, suis d'accord. Un vrai artiste dans tous les sens, bien sur SANS aucun doute la-dessus.
Remind me of the good old days in the neighborhood in LOME II''s Aguiarkome, Asiganto in the 70's and also when we were on the road with L' EQUIPE NATIONALE DU TOGO et L' EQUIPE UNIVERSITAIRE DE L' UNIVERSITE DU BENIN aka BENIN UNIVERSITY CLUB.
A tous les copains et co-equipiers des anneees 70.
MERCI, sante, longue vie, bonheur, succes, longevite.
BEST WISHES,
MEILLEURS VOEUX
@Afrique-de-Demain
Quand j'écoute çà.Je pleure...Quelle Poésie...Quelle époque.J'avais 16 ans et commençais à connaître la vie nocturne.Dans les bars de Lomé...En 1977
@marcellinekomi4380
Ceux qui connaissent Ndjolé au Gabon se souviennent également du grand bar qu'on appelait le COSMOS. Et la music de P.N.M était la plus écoutée et dansée.
Merci Prince pour le beau temps que tu nous fais passé.
@2389630ANITA
bien dit vos commentaires sont très touchants
@clementinemegniguim4994
Depuis le Cameroun j'aimais toujours sa musique depuis qu'il avait commence la musique avec sweet mother, good father et bcp d'autres. Et mm apres sa mort je continue a l'ecouter de tout coeur. Actuellement je suis a 16 ans a New York USA et n'aime pas manquer a l'ecouter mm dans la vieillesse. J'ai deja plus de 66 ans. 👌🙏💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼