“Nya Soleil’s music is based on many musical traditions: a surprising and rich blend of Afrobeat, funk, reggae and salsa”. L’Express, Toronto
Born in New-Bell Douala, Cameroon, Nya Soleil grew up with music, making his first guitar at the age of 6 and joining the Yaoundé Mont-Fébé Palace Orchestra at 15. Leaving at 18 with his guitar as his sole piece of luggage, he began a long journey of musical experiences through Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso before arriving in Paris and releasing his first album in 1987.
Invited by UNESCO, along with Manu Dibango and Francis Bebey as representatives of Cameroon, he participated in tours throughout Africa with Marthe Zambo, Pierre Tshana, Kanda Bongoman and Tshala Muana.
1992 saw the release of his second album “Africa Fête” and its success led to tours in Martinique, Guadeloupe and La Réunion and participation as a studio guitarist in the albums of artist-composers from the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa, France and Jamaica.
Based in Paris with his group “Soleil pour Tous”, Nya Soleil created the cultural association “Soleil pour Tous” in 1994, uniting artists such as Rita Mitsouko, Touré Kunda, Lokua Kanza and many other diaspora musicians in concerts to raise awareness for various humanitarian causes, for which he was awarded the Trophy of the Leaders of the Visible Minority at the National Assembly, Paris, in 2012.
The quality and originality of his music have also earned him recognition in Canada where his performances on the acoustic and electric guitar have captivated audiences since 2007 at festivals such as Afrofest, Nuits d’Afrique, SummerWorld, Afrikadey and Bana y’Afrique.