It’s hard to resist the urge to get up and dance when the first bars of Sa Discossa start playing. The title is a portmanteau of “disco” and “makossa” — the Cameroonian style made famous by Manu Dibango. And that tells you most of what you need to know: driving percussion, exuberant brass sections, and funk guitar lines all propel Jo Tongo’s musical message forward.
“Stand Up Now”, the second track, doubles down on the energy with heavy disco-funk and psychedelic guitar textures. Born in Douala, Cameroon, Jo Tongo spent much of his musical life on the move, playing across Europe and soaking up new influences, which he wove into a language all his own. “What a Lovely Day” carries swinging reggae vibes — not as a stylistic exercise, but as an open-ended, deeply personal interpretation.
Still, it’s the high-energy tracks — fast, rhythmic, and propulsive — that leave the strongest impression. It’s what makes Jo Tongo, originally released in 1980, such an essential reissue.
Sa Discossa
