Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
For more than fifteen years, music has been in the heart of Lucky Godfred’s concerns. After an initial duo with fellow artiste, Junior Aju, with whom they released the nine-track album, “The Stranger”, in 2003, here comes Lucky with his solo album, God Is Great.
The 8-track CD, due official release in May 2014, is a medley of gospel, reggae, makossa and zouk rhythms. Besides the gospel track; God is great and the zouk rhythms in tracks six – La vie and eight – Virginie, there is also the must-danced track seven – Guetto qwin, which is the trendy and African urban hit.
Lucky Godfred, Musician
According to Lucky Godfred, the album God Is Great is a special tribute he is paying to deceased statesman and international icon, Nelson Mandela. “I am excited about the manner in which he fought for freedom. He is an example to emulate. I am also paying my respect to great African musician, the late Miriam Makeba. This is a call for us to glorify the good things in Africa and for us to stop the senseless civil strife rocking the continent. Our children should rather go to school and not become child-soldiers,” he said.
Lucky Godfred was born Godfred Diffang Chu on February 4 1983 in a family where music was entertained in Metta Quarter, Kumba, Meme Division. He will grow into music as his parents used to sing in the church choir, where he accompanied them and picked up the spirit. Subsequently, he moved on and will take part in music and dance competitions organised by a shoe making and distribution company, Batoula at the age of five.
At 15, he began taking part in the National Song Competition organised by the brewery company, Les Brasseries Du Cameroun. He distinguished himself at the divisional level in Kumba and from 1998 to 99, he took part in the regional competition in Mutengene and progressed to the National final in Douala, where he was eliminated along the line.
After his first professional stint with Junior Aju in 2003, in a duo, Lucky went silent in his artistic career. Ten years after, he is back with God Is Great. The album has come to fruition thanks to the production expertise of Lucy Diffang and sponsorship from Oliver Tanfu. The Recording and mixing were done at Douala-based studio JY.P, which are indications that the music industry in Cameroon is on the move.
Despite the difficulties getting ready sponsors, Lucky Godfred is not demoralised. “I am still convinced that music can put bread and butter on my table,” he said.
In one of his recent outings, Lucky Godfred performed at an academic and professional fair organised by the Catholic University Institute of Buea, CUIB.
The artiste is not married but a father of a girl-child.
