Born in Cameroon, Tatè Nsongan is a composer and
musician who plays a variety of instruments. He started to play
traditional African instruments already as a little child. Years later,
he moved to Italy to take part in a number of tours with the Ensamble
Choreographique
Les Genies Noirs de Douala, a group that performed
traditional music and dance.
In 1991 he joined the Turin band Mau Mau as a percussionist and second
voice, recording many albums with them and taking part in all their
tours.
In 2000 he started his own band, Kin Koba, and released with record
label Il Manifesto his first album, “Etnokult”, the outcome of his
personal musical experimentation which brings together tradition and
modernity.
Tatè Nsongan also works with international artists and with Italian
associations, institutions and organisations to spread his culture known
and make the public aware of intercultural issues.
Given the success of his work, in 2003 he founded the association Kin
Koba-Distant Voices, through which he organises music, dance and
intercultural education workshops in schools, youth centres and toy
libraries while taking part in many city events.
In 2005, for the Intenational Migrants’ Day and in co-operation with
Turin’s provincial authority, he wrote, put to music and published the
book and CD “The False Note of Nyambé”, based on a traditional African
fable.
In 2006, with the support of IMAIE, he released the album “Water in
Music”, based on the work he had done in water-themed workshops he
conducted and facilitated in some of Turin’s kindergartens.
In 2007, Tatè Nsongan started working with
Saba, with whom he took part
in many music festivals and projects. He also gave a relevant
contribution as a composer and musician to the album
Jidka (World Music
Network).
In 2009 he released “TatèNsonganTrio”, his latest album.