Wes (singer)

Madiko was born in Mouataba, a village which is about hundred miles away from the city of Douala, Cameroon. He was taught about music by his grandfather, who taught him how to play the kalimba. His grandfather also taught him Bantu history and the wisdom of the elephant within animist Bantu philosophy. This was responsible for an important part of his education: "it was in bush school and during night-time gatherings listening to the metallic beat of the kalimba that I learned the adventures of the father of all ancestors, E'kwa Mutu." In 1974, at the age of ten, Madiko became the conductor of the group Kwa Kwassi, which means "think right" or "just thought". This musical formation brought together the most talented youngsters in the village, who received instruction together in history and art. ==Musical career==

In 1988, the group Fakol with Benjamin Valfroy and Jo Sene was formed. Fakol played in the Netherlands and in other countries throughout Europe. Aside from his musical activity, Wes started to develop an involvement in social work. He visited schools in Lille, and worked with children. Wes took great pleasure in transmitting the wisdom of the elephants and the ancient history of Africa. Two years after, Jacques, Wes's brother and a talented guitarist, died. Their father died a few months later, following a motorbike accident. These incidents led Wes to meditate on the fragility of the self, saying: "there comes a time when a feeling of uselessness invades you and threatens to break you, but you hang in there, convinced that there's always a breath of life somewhere." In the same year he performed I love Football for the FIFA World Cup in France. In 2002, Wes' song "Awa Awa" was featured in Paramount Pictures' The Wild Thornberrys Movie, as well as the episode Falsche Partner of the German series Ein Fall für zwei. "Alane" was used in the German films Zahn um Zahn and Aus heiterem Himmel. In 2007, Wes was working on a new biography and spiritual book. ==Death==

Wes died on 25 June 2021 at Alençon Hospital due to a nosocomial infection after a medical operation. ==Discography==

Studio albums Singles ==References==