Sam Fan Thomas

Who is Sam Fan Thomas?

Sam Fan Thomas is a Cameroonian musician associated with Makossa. He began in the late 1960s and had his first hit with Rikiatou. His African Typic Collection would be an international hit in 1984 and is perhaps his best known album. Thomas began his career in the early 1970s as a guitarist in the Cameroonian band Tigres Noires. He stayed with that band until 1976, when he decided to launch a solo career.

Sam Fan Thomas was born in 1952 and hails from Bafoussam, the capital of the West Province of Cameroon. The city is also the cultural and economical centre of the Bamilike people. He started his musical career in 1968 when he joined The Black Tigers led by Andre Marie Tala. He stayed with Tala for the next eight years, recording several singles.The band also recorded in Paris and toured Senegal and other African countries. It was during this period that Tala developed his Tchamassi rhythm, a modern music style based on Bamilike folklore. Then in 1976, Sam left to pursue a solo career recording his first solo LP Funky New Bell, in Benin on the Satel label. A second LP, also on the Satel label followed in 1977. On this album Sam was supported by the Black Santiagos from Benin.