Africa’s 21st Century Rock Guitar Hero

Growing up in Gabon, Nigeria and Ivory Coast before settling in Europe at age 14, Franck Biyong lived in households filled with good music. Little wonder why  the towering Cameroonian artist is a composer, guitar player, band leader and producer. This master of musical interpretation recalls Jazz guitarist, Wes Montgomery’s “Canadian Sunset” as the song that set him down his musical path as a pre-teen.

Receiving musical instruction and training at the National Institute of Arts in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), he scorched a brilliant path with his electric guitar and became a reporter of human emotions and feelings. Franck translated his experiences into several Afro Beat and Afro Jazz albums that made people move, laugh, dance, cry and meditate.

But Franck Biyong, a consummate performer and creator, has reinvented himself. 

In 2016, Franck shared his vision for Alternative Afro-Electro-Rock and Crossover Music with the recording of the MOONWATCHING album and the LIYOMBA CHURCH single. Having been a musician for over a decade and 
with diverse influences and references (from Francis Bebey to Frank Zappa), Franck serves as a “filter” through which two different streams are passing. The first stream is represented by music of the past generation that he hopes 
to pass on to the next; stretched out, revamped and modernized. While the second is the modern urban sounds that he plans to incorporate, develop and confront working with musical forms that do not belong together in the first place.

Another aspect of Franck’s futuristic idea of African Music is defined by artistic independence and total freedom of expression. This is a marked departure from the current strong push towards commercialization of 
music. Perhaps this is what will herald crossover exposure and presence 
on the international scene. And, what may finally alter the perception of  experimental African musicians at large.