By Walter Wilson Nana
Alo Fonkeng, a gospel singer for many years has decided to turn on the light of his artistic career. From childhood to his professional life as an Accountant in the University of Buea Accounting Service, Alo has been singing and there is no stopping for him.
Recently, at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Hall, Buea, Alo Fonkeng in colour and style released his maiden 10-track album entitled; Turn On The Light.
In his review of the artistry of Alo Fonkeng, Dr. Fred Asong of the Catholic University Institute of Buea, CUIB, said the 47-minute album takes the listener through the journey of faith, while noting the versatility of the artiste. “This is a must listened album with Alo’s own touch of reggae, rock and zouk rhythms done in gospel. These rhythms are done within the context of the word of God” he said.
Alo Fonkeng on his maiden album - Turn On The Light
The chair of the album launch, Charly Ndi Chia, Editor-In-Chief, The Post Newspaper said music is good and enjoined all to be part of Alo Fonkeng’s music because it is fine. He wished the artiste the best in his music career, praying that he comes out as the next Hugh Masekela from Buea, Cameroon and the Central African Region.
Inspired by his mother, Alo Fonkeng caught the singing bug while he accompanied her to church in Tiko. “I began singing in church as a small boy with my mother in the choir. I found solace singing in church and when I realised that I got the spirit to sing, I decided to stay gospel and say thanks to God for the grace of singing,” he said.
Though Alo Fonkeng will release his first album only in 2014, he began writing songs in 1988. To him, the must be a new twist to gospel music from Cameroon. “We have a lot of musical genres within us. There is nothing wrong in fusing them but we must keep it Cameroonian to a large extent. Let us do songs that will identify us as Cameroonians and not other people. I pray my new album will revolutionarise the gospel scene in Cameroon. Let people look at gospel music differently, appreciate it differently, attend to it differently and apply themselves to it differently,” he explained.
He took a commitment to keep doing it until the last energy will be exhausted. Not dampened by the difficulties that come with such a venture, Alo Fonkeng said he will forge ahead. “I have known some difficulties and I make efforts to scale them. I was ready for it and I am pushing on. I have been bleeding out financially but it is not a major worry for me. Thank God, I have been able to go through,” he said.
Atemkeng Atem of Cameroon GCE Board appreciated the tremendous work done by the artiste. “Alo has done a lot to arrive at this stage of his artistic career. He should be congratulated. He is a musician I know so well. There is a lot of aesthetics in the job. He needs a special congratulation,” he mentioned.
Veronica Tangwa of the Secretariat of Lay Private Education in Buea said Alo Fonkeng album launch is not a surprise to those who know him. “He has been singing with the Glory Drops and other church groups for many years. I have been waiting for him to come out as an individual. Today, he has done it in grand style. It is an exciting initiative and the tracks are good to the ears. Let Alo keep it up and continue with the rest of the compositions that he does for the church,” she wished.
Alo Fonkeng, married with four children, was supported at the album launch by members of an all male gospel band, Glory Drops. This is an acapella group of seven, including a priest, Rev.Fr Augustine Anuchem. There was also Brunhilda Mfikela, who came to introduce her new six-track album entitled; God’s Greatness.
Turn On The Light was recorded by Didif Emmanuel at the Buea-based Air Productions. Additional mixing and mastering was done by Walta Blackson of the Dream Recording Studios in Lanham, Madison, USA.
