I live, and this is the main thing!

Richard Bona- is a famous person. And, if you are really interested in music, his name should be familiar to you. Bona – is the real musician. It is proved not only by the history of his unusual life, big number of admirers, projects, but also by his unusual music, capable touch deeply any listener, even the most skeptic one. Being present at his concert and listening to his music, it seems that he and what he does – is a single whole. He cannot exist otherwise – apart from the musical instruments, the unusual rhythms creating the mood. And, probably, it is truth.

Recently Richard Bona arrived with a concert to the complex of “SADY POBEDY”. We were lucky to meet and have a talk with him. (Richard speaks French; therefore we were communicating with the help of translator. - Yu. P.) 

- Richard, unfortunately, not all people who wish can come to your concert. Tell about your music. What music will be this time?

— The main thing that my visitors will hear is good music. I am for the first time in Odessa; therefore I want to learn as much as possible about people who live in it. When I am on stage, there is transfer of energy to audience and back. This is a dialogue with the aid of art, music in particular. Not only those who are at a concert and listen to my music experience positive emotions, but me also. Nobody remain indifferent. 

— What is your music about? We know that you like to experiment and improvise on the stage...

— The music from four albums - from 1999 to 2005 will sound at the concert. Each composition – is a story from my life. Where I was born, there are many stories about which can be interesting to any person on the Earth. Music can tell much and the most important is that it can make feel. I was born in the east of Cameroon, in a small village where poverty and hopelessness prevailed. I grew fond of music and admired it since the childhood: since I was five I sang at church. For me it was enough to see any new instrument to understand main principles and to start to play independently. To tell the truth, there were not many musical instruments in the village, so they could not be bought or hired, but they could be only produced.

Plots of my songs, from one hand, are very simple, but from another – are questionable and diverse. These are - ecology, love, respect, family...

— Will jazz sound at the concert?

— Jazz – is a basis of my creative work. It is created on the basis of the African culture, which is congenial to me. But for my music the mixture of styles is typical - only this way is possible to express my mood and feelings.

— You are not for the first time in Ukraine but you are for the first time in Odessa. Tell us your impressions about our city

— I like to travel very much. Odessa was in a waiting list of cities, which are to be visited. In Marseilles friends told about your city, they told, that Marseilles and Odessa are very similar. I dreamed to come here. In general I liked the city architecture and particular atmosphere of friendliness and joy. It is congenial to me.

— Richard, you sing in language, which is unknown to us. What do you do so that audience understands you? Do you feel freedom at the stage?

— Freedom is internality. Real musician is free by definition. I feel completely free, in fact I can share the feelings, emotions, memories, ideas by means of music with each person who will listen and hear me. And it has much importance for me. I give part of me in exchange for emotions and feelings of the person. And it is absolutely not important, in what language the words of the song are, what nationality the musician is or what country motives are reproduced in music. Music is language of heart. Mozart in fact can move deeply people from any parts of the world, people of any nationality. Language of music belongs to nobody - it is common.

— The concert hall and place are not so important for me. It can be both many thousands stadium, and a chamber hall. The concert can take place in Siberia, and in desert. When there are people, there is a sensation that you are listened to, - there is passion. However, technical maintenance, certainly, is important. The concert hall in “SADY POBEDY” is equipped very well, perfect acoustics and magnificent interior. It is equipped better than in New York. I am pleased in this sense.

— Richard, how do you revive yourself with positive energy? In fact it is impossible to give constantly...

— I live - and anyway that is something! I wake up with this thought every day. I have nothing to complain: I am engaged in favorite occupation, which brings happiness to me and pleasure to those around me. At concerts I share the happiness and in exchange I receive unusual quantity of positive fluids, positive emotions, and smiles. I love my life. My grandfather taught me to appreciate life. He was a musician, but first of all – he was a very wise person. I take energy when I meet people, communicate and travel to unknown places.

Yuliya Podmogina
The text and photo are given by limited liability company “News agency PROMEDIA”
Photo by: Sergey Mayorov