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Richard Bona

Richard Bona (born 28 October 1967 in Minta, Cameroon) is a virtuoso Cameroonian Grammy Award-winning[1] jazz bassist. Bona Pinder Yayumayalolo[3] was born in Minta, Cameroon, into a family of musicians, which enabled him to start learning music from a young age. His grandfather was a griot – a West African singer of praise and storyteller – and percussionist, as his mother was a singer. When he was four years old, Bona started to play the balafon. At the age of five, he began performing at his village church. Not being wealthy, Bona made many of his own instruments: including flutes and guitars (with cords strung over an old motorcycle tank).[4] His talent was quickly noticed, and he was often invited to perform at festivals and ceremonies. Bona began learning to play the guitar at the age of 11, and in 1980, aged just 13, he assembled his first ensemble for a French jazz club in Douala.[5] The owner befriended him and helped him discover jazz music, in particular that of Jaco Pastorius, which inspired Bona to switch his focus to the electric bass.[6]


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Born:
Oct 28, 1967 In Minta, Cameroon
Movie/TV Credits:
8
First Appeared:
In the movie Manu Katché - Quartet Live Montreux Jazz Club 2014
Latest Project:
Movie Beneath the Bassline - Lost Backstage 2021-01-01
Known For
Poster of Beneath the Bassline - Lost Backstage
Poster of Richard Bona - Jazz  Festival Timisoara
Poster of Pat Metheny Group - Speaking Of Now Live
Poster of Manu Katché - Quartet Live Montreux Jazz Club 2014
Filmography
Movie Manu Katché - Quartet Live Montreux Jazz Club 2014 Self - Bass 2025
Movie Beneath the Bassline - Lost Backstage Self 2021-01-01
Movie Quincy Jones : A Musical Celebration Paris Self 2019-10-02
Movie Richard Bona - Jazz Festival Timisoara bass - vocals 2013-07-05
Movie Bobby McFerrin - Live in Montreal Himself 2005-09-12
Movie Steps Ahead: Live at Vitoria Jazz Festival Himself 2005-02-19
Movie Pat Metheny Group - Speaking Of Now Live 2003-11-18
Series Vivement dimanche Self 1998-09-20