Richard Bona

Jazz bassist Richard Bona came into the world in Cameroon, a West African country, and later took part in recording sessions alongside Joe Zawinul, Regina Carter, and Bob James while also serving for two years as musical director to the great Harry Belafonte. His first album as a leader, Scenes from My Life, appeared in 1999, followed two years afterward by Reverence. Bona entered the Verve catalog in 2003 via Munia: The Tale, an album that moved into rock and jazz terrain yet retained his West African roots, and the 2005 release Toto Bona Lokua united him with Lokua Kanza from the Congo and Gerald Toto from Martinique. Tiki surfaced in 2006 and included contributions from guests such as John Legend and Djavan.