Founded in 1964, Chari Jazz was the first modern

Chad Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North Africa, North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to Chad–Libya border, the north, Sudan to Chad–Sudan border, the east, the Central Afric ...

musical group. Chari Jazz was preceded by 1962 creation in

N'Djamena N'Djamena ( ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Chad, largest city of Chad. It is also a Provinces of Chad, special statute region, divided into 10 districts or ''arrondissements'', similar to the city of Paris. Originally calle ...

(then Fort-Lamy) of Tchad succès, a band composed mainly of

Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...

ian and Congolese musicians, though including Bar Kossi. Musician Naimou Mbaitoloum was joined by his friends from Sarh (then Fort-Archambault), forming the band Star Jazz in 1964. The poorly equipped Star Jazz was sponsored by President François Tombalbaye, who further changed its name to Chari Jazz. (Sarh was located in the Moyen-Chari Prefecture.) Tombalbaye sent Chari Jazz to

Zaire Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire, was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 18 May 1997. Located in Central Africa, it was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria, and the 11th-la ...

to learn from Francois Luambo Makiadi and

Tabu Ley Rochereau Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu (13 November 1940 – 30 November 2013), better known as Tabu Ley Rochereau, was a Congolese rumba singer and musician. He was the leader of ''Orchestre Afrisa International'', as well as one of Africa's most influe ...

, under whom it gathered members Kossi, Kemtchang Daniel, Adoum Fremouss"La musique recherche son identité"
, cefod.org and Alladoumbaye Béyamra. Upon return, Chari Jazz set up in Fort-Lamy. Malao Hennecy from the

Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to Central African Republic–Chad border, the north, Sudan to Central African Republic–Sudan border, the northeast, South Sudan to Central ...

also became associated with the band in 1965."Histoire de la Musique Centrafricaine en quelques dates"
maziki.free.fr Before it could be established, in 1965 musician Kader left the group to form Logone Band based out of Moundou, followed by the departure of guitarist Ramadingué, who formed African Mélody.

Notes and references

Chadian musical groups N'Djamena {{Chad-stub