Koko Dembele

Flavienne Koko Ateba, born on December 9, 1959 in Zoétélé, Cameroon, was a singer and guitarist. Inspired by Henri Njoh and Elvis Kemayo, she began her musical journey with the help of sound engineer Ambroise Voundi and musician Sade Gide. Her debut album L’Argent appelle l’argent (1980) blended bikutsi, folk, and jazz. She later released Talk Talk in 1986, which included the songs "Je suis bien ici" and "Taxi." In 1988, she performed "Atemengue" at the presidential palace and was briefly imprisoned following a misunderstanding involving the First Lady of Cameroon. After her release, Koko Ateba moved to France, where she gained visibility through the song "Frou-Frou," which became the theme for Christine Bravo’s television show. She continued performing in Cameroon and France until her death on December 13, 2004, in Suresnes, France, from lung cancer.