Michael Kiessou Explained
Anacle Michael Ghounam Kiessou better known by his stage name Michael Kiessou[1] is a Cameroonian singer and entertainer.[3] He came to wide public attention[4] with his song Bennam.[5] [6] from his debut EP Partage[7] released on 2 April 2014. Twice-nominated for the Canal 2'Or Act 10 (Canal 2 International Awards), he won the Best Video award with Tourner les reins.[8] [9] and Best Male Artist at the 2015 GreenLights Awards.
Early life
Born in Douala, he is a native from the MiFi and Koung-Khi from the West Region (Cameroon). 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, 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, 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 Canal 2 International 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[10] marked the debuts of his music career. In March 2013, he met the producer Philjohn[11] who made him sign under his record label Hope Music Group .
2013–2015: Partage (first EP)
In 2013 after signing with Hope Music Group, Michael returned from working in 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 the Littoral Region (Cameroon) marking a happy event. To support this move, Michael also paid tribute to the famous Sam Fan Thomas's "Makassi dance". The video was directed by NS Pictures and the world exclusive premiered on the Jambo show of Canal 2 International the 28 July 2013 and YouTube on 3 August 2013.
Controversy
On the eve of Christmas Eve, Michael decided to end his career through a post on his official Facebook page.[12] The news went viral, the media relayed the information, and 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 media and public, Hope Music group confirmed the information and tried to reassure by promising an eventual return of the artist. Michael's fans and sympathizers sent him a letter four days following the announcement,[13] 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.[14]
Discography
Albums
Singles
Collaborations
- Zeng Zeng – Jemmy Sev (2015)[28]
- KDT – HMG feat Dynastie le tigre, Yvich (2015) (TBD)[29]
Awards and nominations
- Canal 2'Or Act 10 (Canal 2 International Awards)|-| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| 2015| rowspan="2"|Michael Kiessou| Best music revelation| [30] |-| Best video (tourner les reins)| [31] |-
- Greenlight Awards|-| style="text-align:center;"| 2015| Michael Kiessou| Best Male artist| [32] |-
- KR Awards|-| style="text-align:center;"| 2015| Michael Kiessou| Committee special award| [33] |-
- MTN Zik Awards|-| style="text-align:center;"| 2016| Michael Kiessou| Most downloaded artist| |-
Tours and residencies
Wopalilo Live Tour
The Wopalilo live Tour[34] 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, Cameroon on 18 December 2014 and ended in Douala, 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.[35]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: WanDiscovery : Michael Kiessou, Chanteur auteur interprete – Cameroun . French . JeWandaMagazine . 14 September 2013 . 25 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154728/http://www.jewanda-magazine.com/2013/09/wandiscovery-michael-kiessou-chanteur-auteur-interprete-cameroun/ . 2 April 2015 .
- Web site: french. Le Label Hope Music Group s'apprête à livrer une bombe. kamermoov . 16 March 2015 . 20 March 2015.
- Web site: Wopalilo : "sagat sagat de Michael Kiessou et C'Prime!" . Auletch.com . french . 16 November 2014 . 25 February 2015.
- Web site: Michael Kiessou surpris avec les élèves de la Cité Verte à Yaoundé . french . CulturEbene . 8 January 2015 . 4 March 2015.
- Web site: Clip : Bennam – Michael Kiessou . Je Wanda Magazine . 2 March 2014 . 25 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093405/http://www.jewanda-magazine.com/2014/03/clip-bennam-michael-kiessou/ . 2 April 2015 .
- Web site: Cameroun, video clip – Michael Kiessou Bennam . french . CulturEbene . 1 March 2014 . 25 February 2015.
- https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/partage/id891947896 Partage
- Web site: french. Canal 2'Or 10ème édition : Voici les Vainqueurs... – CulturEbene . Culturebene. 2 March 2015 . 2 March 2015.
- Web site: Event " Canal d'OR 2015 : Le review" . french. Lwn-mag . 1 March 2015 . 2 March 2015.
- Web site: Nexdim Empire » Blog Archive » SPOTLIGHT : MICHEL KIESSOU . french . nexdimempire . 2 April 2014 . 20 March 2015.
- Web site: french. Focus : Philjohn, le nouveau génie de la zik urbaine Kmer! . lwnmag . 13 March 2015 . 20 March 2015.
- Web site: french. Musique : Michael Kiessou annonce sa retraite anticipée! . jewandamag . 5 January 2015 . 15 March 2015.
- Web site: french . CAMEROUN,LETTRE DES FANS À MICHAEL KIESSOU : ON NE JETTE PAS LES ARMES AVANT D'AVOIR COMBATTU ! :: CAMEROON . camerbe . 27 December 2015 . 16 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131942/http://www.camer.be/38224/30:27/cameroun-lettre-des-fans-a-michael-kiessou-on-ne-jette-pas-les-armes-avant-davoir-combattu-cameroon.html . 2 April 2015 . dead .
- Web site: french. Hope Music Group annonce le retour de Michael Kiessou . culturebene . 16 January 2015 . 16 March 2015.
- Web site: french. Ndolè culture : "L'EP Partage de Michael Kiessou est désormais disponible sur les plateformes de téléchargement" . lwnmag . 10 July 2014 . 26 February 2015.
- Web site: french. Partage – Michael Kiessou . Amazon . 2 April 2014 . 26 February 2015.
- Web site: french. Michael Kiessou : Abele by NS Pictures . Le Quotidien du Gri-Gri International . 5 August 2013 . 5 March 2015.
- Web site: french. Michael Kiessou t'offre Abele – Ndjoka. Ndjoka. 8 February 2014. 5 March 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103539/http://ndjoka.com/actualites/michael-kiessou-toffre-abele/. 2 April 2015.
- Web site: Music : "Michael Kiessou – Bennam (Official video)" . Afro-beat-crew . 6 March 2014 . 26 February 2015.
- Web site: Zik Kmer : "Top 10 pour l'année 2014 !!!" . lwnmag . 12 December 2014 . 25 February 2015.
- Web site: Zik Kmer : "Top 20 des rythmes musicaux les plus telecharges au cameroun " . kurbain . 21 February 2015 . 27 February 2015.
- Web site: french . Clip : "Tourner les reins" – Michael Kiessou . Je Wanda Magazine . 23 July 2014 . 25 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402160234/http://www.jewanda-magazine.com/2014/07/clip-tourner-les-reins-michael-kiessou/ . 2 April 2015 .
- Web site: french. "TOURNER LES REINS", LE NOUVEAU SINGLE DE MICHEAL KIESSOU . Newsducamer . 17 July 2014 . 5 March 2015.
- Web site: french. Clip-officiel : "Michael Kiessou Wopalilo (feat.C'Prime) . Camer24 . 21 January 2015 . 27 February 2015.
- Web site: VIDEO: Michael Kiessou Drops Video For Hit Song "Wopalilo" . Kamer Kongosa . 20 January 2015 . 4 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183519/http://kamerkongosa.com/video-michael-kiessou-drops-video-for-hit-song-wopalilo/ . 3 March 2016 . dead .
- Web site: Qui est sourd face à Michael ? Suivez Kiessou dans son Wopalilo Live Tour . french . CulturEbene . 17 December 2014 . 4 March 2015.
- Web site: 2016-08-13 . Le Bentrap de Michael kiessou… Analyse . 2022-07-19 . CamerounWeb . fr.
- Web site: french . Coup de maître pour l'artiste Jemmy Sev sur le titre "Zeng zeng" (feat Michael Kiessou) . hellocoton . 4 February 2015 . 5 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402183701/http://www.hellocoton.fr/coup-de-maitre-pour-l-artiste-jemmy-sev-sur-le-titre-zeng-zeng-feat-michael-kiessou-15669800 . 2 April 2015 . dead .
- Web site: french. Michael Kiessou, Dynastie Le Tigre et Yvich, trio de choc pour un titre non dévoilé. kurbain. 16 March 2015 . 20 March 2015.
- Web site: Canal 2'Or 10ème édition : Voici les nominés . french . musicinafrica . 5 March 2015 . 29 January 2015.
- Web site: Canal 2'Or: Les lauréats de la dixième édition . french . journalducameroun . 2 March 2015 . 2 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150314223020/http://journalducameroun.com/article.php?aid=19502 . 14 March 2015 .
- Web site: Qui sont les artistes nominés aux céremonies de Green Light Awards ? – Vidéo . french. kurbain. 28 February 2015. 23 December 2014.
- Web site: Michael Kiessou rafle son troisième Awards de l'année. french. Culturebene. 10 August 2015. 1 August 2015.
- Web site: Qui est sourd face à Michael ? Suivez Kiessou dans son Wopalilo Live Tour – CulturEbene . french. culturebene. 1 January 2015. 17 December 2014.
- Web site: CAMEROUN: QUI EST SOURD FACE À MICHAEL ? SUIVEZ KIESSOU DANS SON WOPALILO LIVE TOUR. french. camerbe. 2 January 2015. 17 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150106181903/http://www.camer.be/37913/1:6/cameroun-qui-est-sourd-face-a-michael-g-suivez-kiessou-dans-son-wopalilo-live-tour-cameroon.html. 6 January 2015. dead.