Anacle Michael Ghounam Kiessou better known by his stage name Michael Kiessou is a Cameroonian singer and entertainer. He came to wide public attention with his song ''Bennam.'' from his debut EP ''Partage''https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/partage/id891947896 released on 2 April 2014. Twice-nominated for the Canal 2'Or Act 10 (

Canal 2 International Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow und ...

Awards), he won the Best video award with ''Tourner les reins''. and Best Male Artist at the 2015 GreenLights Awards.

Early life

Born in Douala, he is a native from the

MiFi MiFi is a brand name used to describe a wireless router that acts as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. In many countries, including The United States, Canada, and Mexico, Inseego Corp (previously known as Novatel Wireless) owns a registered trademark o ...

and

Koung-Khi Koung-Khi is a department of West Province in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 353 km and as of 2005 had a total population of 65,021. The capital of the department is Bandjoun. The department was created in 1995 when the Mifi d ...

from the

West Region (Cameroon) The West Region (french: Région de l'Ouest) is 14,000 km2 of territory located in the central-western portion of the Republic of Cameroon. It borders the Northwest Region to the northwest, the Adamawa Region to the northeast, the Centre ...

. From a young age, he had been lulled by world music and traditional rhythms of his native West. Early influenced by great Cameroonian artists such as Sam Fan Thomas, Douleur,

Richard Bona Richard Bona (born 28 October 1967) is a Cameroon-born American multi-instrumentalist and singer. Early life Bona Penda Nya Yuma Elolo was born in Minta, Cameroon, into a family of musicians, which enabled him to start learning music from a y ...

, and many others, throughout his high school studies, he fed his passion and developed his art in school competitions.

Career

2010–2013:Radio and TV Host

After achieving his bachelor degree in organizations communication at the

University of Douala University of Douala, or Université de Douala (UDla), is located in Douala in Cameroon. The University of Douala is one of the eight public universities of Cameroon. History The current structure of the University of Douala was established i ...

, Michael stepped into radio entertainment. During a training course at the RTM Radio Douala, he met Joyce Fotso, who guided him in his debut as radio and TV host. Two years later, he joined the television channel

in which he will host shows such as ''Sweet Surfer'' on Sweet FM radio, ''Comptoir dafrik'' and ''Urban list''.

Debuts music career

Alongside his TV-radio host activity, he decided to step into the music industry by collaborating with Edel Koula, a local rnb singer. Thus, the single ''Demoiselle'' marked the debuts of his music career .In March 2013, he met the producer Philjohn who made him sign under his record label Hope Music Group .

2013–2015: Partage (first EP)

In 2013 after signing to Hope Music Group, Michael returned working to studios and focusing on his new music. Produced by Philjohn, Abele was released on 17 July 2013 and became the first single from the EP. Michael through the video concept, honored the festive movement found in

Littoral Region (Cameroon) The Littoral Region (french: Région du Littoral) is a region of Cameroon. Its capital is Douala. , its population was 3,174,437.Sam Fan Thomas's "Makassi dance" . The video was directed by NS Pictures and the world exclusive premiered on the Jambo show of

the 28 July 2013 and YouTube on 3 August 2013.

Controversy

On the eve Christmas Eve, Michael decided to end his career through a post on his official Facebook page. The news gone viral, the media relayed the information, public opinion was split and asked for clarification on the matter. Some decried a buzz strategy or marketing campaign as the single Wopalilo was about to go out the next week. Through a press release to the medias and public, Hope Music group confirmed the information and tried to reassure in promising an eventual return of the artist. Michael fans and sympathizers sent him a letter four days following the announcement, to remind him that "we don't quit a battle before fighting it" . Finally, during the radio program ''generations 2.0'' of Brice albin on ''radio nostalgie'' Michael announced his return and dropped his Wopalilo video.

Discography

Albums

*'' Partage EP'' (2014–2015) *''Nomtema (Le Prelude) EP'' (2016)

Singles

*''Demoiselle'' (2012) *''Abele'' (2013) *''Bennam'' (2014) *''Tourner les reins'' (2014) *''Wopalilo(Sagat Sagat) feat C-Prime '' (2015) *''Lomdie feat Locko'' (2015) *''BenTrap'' (2016)

Collaborations

*''Zeng Zeng – Jemmy Sev'' (2015) *''KDT – HMG feat Dynastie le tigre, Yvich'' (2015) (TBD)

Awards and nominations

;Canal 2'Or Act 10 (

Awards ) , - , style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2", 2015 , rowspan="2", Michael Kiessou , Best music revelation , , - , Best video (tourner les reins) , , - ;Greenlight Awards , - , style="text-align:center;", 2015 , Michael Kiessou , Best Male artist , , - ;KR Awards , - , style="text-align:center;", 2015 , Michael Kiessou , Committee special award , , - ;MTN Zik Awards , - , style="text-align:center;", 2016 , Michael Kiessou , Most downloaded artist , , - Michael Kiessou au festival Orange Fomaric

Michael Kiessou au festival Orange Fomaric

Tours and residencies

Wopalilo Live Tour The Wopalilo live Tour was the first concert tour by Michael. Announced in October 2014 with initial dates mostly in Central Africa, the tour contained 5 legs and 50 shows. It began in

Yaoundé Yaoundé (; , ) is the capital of Cameroon and, with a population of more than 2.8 million, the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region of the nation at an elevation of about 750 metres (2,50 ...

, Cameroon on 18 December 2014 and ended in

Douala Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Ai ...

, Cameroon on 30 August 2015. Its title is a reference to his brand new single Wopalilo featuring Cameroonian rapper C-prime, who made multiple guest appearances throughout the tour.

External links

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiessou, Michael Living people People from Bafoussam 21st-century Cameroonian male singers People from Douala 1986 births