Jennifer Ewube Ndip born on 31st May 1994, is a Cameroonian dancehall artist that has risen through the ranks in the Cameroon showbiz scenario.
Born into a musical family the talented artist in her early years did a series of backups. Still, it was not until 2013 when she got signed under Best Music Inc. did she make her breakthrough into the Cameroon music scene with the release of her first single ‘party all night’ produced by Slimbeatz.
Party all night became a club anthem in Cameroon and many African countries throughout 2013 and 2014. Fans of dancehall music were thrilled with the arrival of a queen and she was even dubbed ‘Cameroon’s Rihanna’ by popular Nigerian entertainment blog Notjustok.com.
She eventually signed a contract with mobile network company MTN as a brand influencer using the song ‘party all night’ as a call-back tone. She was also one of the frontline artists at the Douala Hip-hop Festival in 2014.
Ewube : Party All Nyte Official Video
Her second single ‘Troway’ ft Rude Bway earned her a nomination at the CAMEE Awards 2014 in the Best Female Vocalist category.
In 2015 she was nominated for the urban Jamz Award in the category of Best Female Artist.
She equally won Best Female Artist with Highest Downloads on MTNZIK. She eventually parted ways with Best Music Inc., and established her own label ‘Omega Records’.
‘Pop it”, her first single under Omega Records saw her secure a nomination at the most significant arts and entertainment award ceremony in the country ‘Canal D’Or’.
This was followed by the release of ‘ Chole me’ which saw the artist gain huge airplay on multiple international music channels like Channel O, MTV Base, and Trace Africa among others.
In 2017 she was eventually nominated at the prestigious AFRIMA Awards under the category of Best Female Artist Central Africa, an event that saw her perform live in Lagos Nigeria.
Ewube eventually got signed to Steven’s Music Entertainment 9SME) following the likes of Daphne, Gasha, Shura, and Boytag who were previous signees under the renowned label.
However, her joining SME saw her take a deviation from dancehall as she tried to explore the Afro-pop genre. This saw the release of songs like ‘C’est Toi’, ‘pour Toi’, and her first body of work dubbed ‘The Renaissance’ EP.
2020 saw her gain international recognition with her nomination at the Paris Arts and Movies Awards for Best Sound Track In A Movie’. an award she won for her soundtrack ‘Abeg’ in the movie ‘The Fisherman’s Diary’.
Taking a critical look at the artist’s career we realize the artist didn’t harness much success in the afro-pop domain as she did in dancehall.
This eventually influenced the venerated vocalist into signing out of SME in 2022, so she could focus on the genre she flows with better.
And yes she made an instant impact with the release of ‘Comme ca’ ft Magasco and her latest single’
Ewube – Allô Bébé [ Official Video]
Allo Bebe’ currently tops dancehall charts in many music streaming and radio and TV platforms in the country.
https://blackstylemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Review-by-Black-style-Decoding-‘Ewube-Blackstyle-Media-Featured-1420x750.jpg7501420BlackStylehttps://blackstylemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Blackstyle-mediao-logo-Small-v2.pngBlackStyle2022-07-14 18:34:242022-07-14 18:43:27Decoding the dancehall princess Ewube
Mr. Leo, a Cameroon musician hailing from the northwest region of Cameroon is an indigenous of the Nzo tribe.
While it could be said that people from Nso are easily identified by their tongue (no offense ohh! We’re proud of who we are) or by their names: Fonyuy Leonard Nsohburinka (Mr. Leo) is a typical son of the soil, from a well renewed and prestigious tribe.
A tribe that supports each other to succeed. Such success will become evident as we zone in on the music career of Mr. Leo.
The beginning of Leo
Mr. Leo started music in Buea during a time when urban music in Cameroon was not yet a big deal.
But gradually he struggled his way to fame in 2015 when he released the single “E Go Betta” which later became a hit.
A hit that piloted his popularity aggressively throughout the nation of Cameroon
Alpha Betta Record was his umbrella, the Record he signed to before releasing: Ego better”
“E go better” was relatable; one of the reasons it became a hit and also due to the fact that it was wonderfully produced by our heavyweight, Salatiel, a season musician and producer with years of experience making hits.
I know the attention here is Leo but have you guys noticed that most things Salatiel has touched eventually turn to Gold? A topic for another day.
(I won’t let Oga Salatiel steal this post.)
Radios, TVs, the street, the ajajas, the Nagambokos, and even the first lady grooved to the emotional manipulations of “E Go Better”.
It was a memorable period in Buea, Cameroon, the wonderful days when we had the luxury to do music without watching our backs
(you gerit? If you don’t gerit forget abt it)
While the public was enjoying the wonderful visuals of E go better, brained by Ada Akenji, one of our many heavy-weight Music video directors, Leo was in the studio cutting Records back to back.
And this is clearly evident in the bombs he dropped after “E go better”, basically making his first record achievements feel like a joke.
(a little spice for this soup no fit kill person noh)
Another Banger!
” On Va Gérer” dropped in November 2015 and everybody went crazy. In fact, me sef I craz ohh. You know how fame turns a guy into black chocolate and you just want to chop it nah!
Out with the old, in with the new, the whole nation jumped into the ” On Va Gérer” wagon and instead of crying about our poverty, we were dancing with it. (smart contrast for Mr. Leo there)
A result of proper understanding of using melodies, experience, and relatability to manipulate the feelings of the audience. Leo knew we couldn’t cry and continue to make promises in solitude!
Leo put a zing to the same message. lol
Awards came calling and girls came rushing. Accolades here we come!!
Remember how I said the Nso people do not joke with their people’s issues? Banso pipo took matters into their hands
(I no di imply say u no be support Leo ohh)
As tribalistic as this may sound if this was our only sin, our Music makers would all be landlords but e get as e be Since most of us have chosen to teach Mark Zuckerberg how Social media is supposed to be used: to drag down our own brothers and sisters for likes and views,
make I continue with Leo, my sweetheart
( if I hear pim, u die).
Awards
Balafon Awards in 2016,
Best Male Artist from Central Africa at the AFRIMA in 2017
best male single for his title “Never Never” at the African Entertainment Awards (USA).
Ambassador Deals
Brand Ambassador for the Itel Mobile group in 2017.
ambassador and participant of cuhliamusic
An initiative to promote resilience for artists in Africa and across the globe 2021
An ambassador to yango taxi agency 2022
Hard Work Makes The Dream Work!
Not only is Money that moves this handsome ohh, but He also loves nature!
(some people love the forest too much lol. Make small joke no kill u a beg)
Leo joined World Nature Funds to protect Mother Earth by being a part of their project and using his talent to support this initiative with a song featuring other African musicians.
You want hear song! Listen below:
Despite all this back to back hits, Leo isn’t pumping up his brakes any time soon! Good music has never been an issue for this my sexilicious Manly Music guru (see abbs! 6 pack weh e di exits in real life. No be photoshop)
We sign contracts here and there and they are never meant to last forever! (You know how we roll!)
The same thing applies to Leo (Na wa club member noh!)
The deal with Alpha Betta ended and we moved on to even bigger things (No offense to Oga Salatiel, children would definitely grow to be fathers for other children so they can then be father potential!
Be calming down please.
(no be me go fry ya IP)
Am I the only one seeing that alpha-beta has never been the same since Leo left? A topic for another day!
(I come bearing gift)
Alpha Beta Made a Lion:
Do you know how the king of the jungle always gets what He wants even with the Ladies? This is not one of those stories.
Leo is a very respectful Lion King who Holds his Old oga dearly everywhere e goes. So this Lion was born by a bigger lion
(coded things you know!)
Leo from an apprentice to oga started calling shorts nah. He upgraded from signing contracts to giving contracts (lol, we’re way too big ohh)
Under lion productions, Kamini ( a fine Nyango from the west region) and Gomez were the only two having the Lion Productions Hose for themselves
“Soulever” dropped and Mr. Adrenalin became James Cameroon on the Video
(used as an expression biko. I no first sabi who be James Cameron sef, lol)
From here, was Father and two children dropping hits back to back. Hits were many to a point we lost count and just kept dancing.
( kind of like what papa does to this our land and we all have become used too)( You get it now?)
In mid-2022 Mr. Sympa was signed and then later, more signs! (which we won’t talk about today)
Before MR Sympa was Signed, we all woke up one morning to the News that the two children of Lion production don’t want to do again. (not like the two left the same day ohh!).
My heart was broken by the news but you know na! I am a strong lady so I picked the pieces up, with a little super glue and Baam! the heart is brand new again and I was ready to give it out once more
Kamini and Gomez later tried to convince us that all was well in the jungle hse. Even The Lion didn’t explain much about his Cubs!
All we heard was Cubs are parting ways with Papa Lion cuz it’s the best. We don’t even know where mama lion is.
Is it safe for lion Cubs to become independent? It’s easy for the jungle to mistake Cubs for pussi ohh
(yes, pussi without a Y, Bad fashion pikins)
The fact of this matter be say, truth no fit hide and soon we go know. Too many Hyaenas in this jungle. One might hear a cry out for Papa lion to come to the rescue!
Cubs too can hunt thanks to training for Papa Lion, so we are very flexible for both outcomes
The Lion Roars
All these pimples don’t affect Mr. Leo and his career! His tradition of back-to-back music didn’t stop
(u see why I crush this guy! I hope say I talk am fine. Not all of us are romantic like telenovela babes)
On a solid rock, Leo stands, always busy making hits and from one project to the next. He even had to reinvent himself to portray the true son of the soil that he is!
He lost half of his followers when he switched his sound to Folk but the “ kendeh” had to go. Out with the old, In with the new. Leo deserves a fanbase of movers and shakers!
What he lost in quality turned what he was left with into quality. He is bigger and even better now
Cameroon and Nso tribe are already proud of this Man. I can imagine mothers in the village trying to hook up their daughters to this great soul.
If there has to be a world championship among musicians and Lion doesn’t stand at the forefront, repping this nation ehh!, I go fall bush
( I have a bush in my backyard ready for me to fall into!)
As frightening as it is to those who know the logistics of touring, Leo did a Cameroon tour. Should I remind you about the 10 regions that make up Cameroon?
(I will not be your history teacher today am fully booked)
From world tour to a live music tour where he got the support of ASKIA,Mary Asaba. A hero indeed
Conclusion
Staying under a label and consistently dropping hits for 13 years is no joke. Some of our musicians can barely last in a 3-year contract and I must commend Mr. Leo for his Laser focus, humility, and the ability to empower those in need.
He is a true living example for us to learn from. He left from a nobody to becoming the boss of his own Label, Lion productions to gracing the billboard in New York time square with the release of his album, “Africa Jeey”
Despite all this, it’s evident that his career is just getting started.
Ride on my love (Make I no loose hussy for this kind compliment ohh)
Blackstyle media deh ya back papa.
Much love
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