Les Têtes Brulées are a Cameroonian band known for a mellow pop version of the bikutsi dance music. Their name literally means the burnt heads in French, but more likely is meant to imply mindblown or hot heads. The band was formed by Jean-Marie Ahanda, and included the guitarist Zanzibar, who remains well known for innovative attachment of foam rubber to the bridge of his guitar, which made the instrument sound like a traditional balafon. Zanzibar's death in 1988 threatened to end the band's future, but they continued performing and recording. Their first LP was Hot Heads, which was also the first full-length recording of bikutsi, and contained lyrics which addressed social issues. The band toured across Africa, Europe, the United States and Japan; some footage of this tour was used in Claire Denis' film Man No Run. Later, they accompanied the Cameroon soccer team to the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which brought the band many new fans.
Links To Peel[]
After the World Cup in 1990, the band attracted attention from outside Africa, including Peel, who would invite the band to do a session for his show in October 1990. Peel mentioned on the 13 October 1990 show that the Pig went to see the band perform at Cambridge, however the turnout wasn't high, but she did like them, apart from one or two drum solos from the group. Peel encouraged listeners on the show to go and see them during their UK tour. After 1990, the band were rarely played on Peel's show.
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1990-10-16. Broadcast: 27 October 1990
- Oyili / Ekye / Ziliyan / Mindzug
Other Shows Played[]
Les Tetes Brulées - papa (Bleu caraibes 1990)
- 1990
- 17 July 1990: Naoum Wom (LP - Les Têtes Brulées) Stern's Africa
- 18 July 1990: Ca Fait Mal (album - Les Têtes Brulées) Bleu Caraïbes
- 19 July 1990: Za Ayi Neyi (album - Les Têtes Brulées) Bleu Caraïbes 82803-2
- 24 July 1990: Papa (album - Les Têtes Brulées) Bleu Caraïbes 82803-2
- 25 July 1990: Zanzi Collection (album - Les Têtes Brulées) Bleu Caraïbes 82803-2
- 26 July 1990: Man Fo Job (album - Les Têtes Brulées) Bleu Caraïbes 82803-2
- 06 August 1990 (Ö3): Za Ayi Meyi (album - Les Têtes Brulées) Bleu Caraïbes 82803-2
- 23 August 1990: Man Fo Job (album - Les Têtes Brulées) Bleu Caraïbes 82803-2
- 30 August 1990: Papa (album - Les Têtes Brulées) Bleu Caraïbes 82803-2