Ndifor Achu, better known as Achu Normad, was born on April 10, 1988 in Cameroon. He grew up in the village of Mankon in Bamenda, Cameroon, Achu Normad, always felt his heartbeat synchronizing with the drumbeats played by the village dance groups around him.
The son of a guitarist, Achu soon picked up the guitar and started playing to these African rhythms. Soon after, jazz music caught his attention and the harmonic minor swing feel captivated him. He started experimenting by combining the African rhythm guitar playing style with Latin American influences and a dash of jazz. All these, coupled with his soulful voice, have enabled him to be able to tell his story to the world.
In the fall of 2014, he emigrated to the United States, where he was finally able to put into motion what he had been grooming. He created a band in Lexington, Kentucky where he worked on mixing the West African rhythms of Makossa and Bikutsi with Cuban jazz and soulful vocals. Two years after, he released his debut album Alieh, released under the record label Akumba Music.
Achu Normad currently resides in Kentucky, United States and tours the United States and Europe.
Discography:
Alieh (Akumba Music, 2016)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.