Della Tamin

Self-taught Cameroonian musician Della Tamin lends an exciting flavour to the music industry with the richness of his songs, unique style and resonant voice. Composing and singing in French, English and his home language Medumba, Della’s inspiration for his songs often comes to him through his ancestors in his dreams. His music is influenced by the rhythmic patterns of the Yaounde region in Cameroon, although his admiration for French chansons comes out in his romantic and dramatic songwriting.

A member of the Cameroonian youth band Les Sans Frontieres, Della came to South Africa in 2004 looking for opportunities in the music industry and was fortunate to be ‘discovered’ by Robert Trunz from MELT2000 while was recording with the band LAP (Live African Percussion) on Robert’s farm in Cullinan. Robert introduced Della to many artists and musicians such as Lianne Cox, the late Moses Khumalo, Mabi Thobejane, Pops Mohamed and Chris Lewis, among others, who have all had a positive influence on him and his South African musical career.

Della recorded his debut album, 'Afro-Salsa', at Digi-Huts and Moya Sound with the support and supervision of Themba Mkhize. Recently released to much acclaim, 'Afro-Salsa' takes one on a multi-layered musical journey through Della’s life and dreams. Della performs nationwide, with fans able to catch him on a weekly basis at Moyo restaurants at Melrose Arch and Zoo Lake in Johannesburg. He has also performed at venues such as the Bassline, Horror Café, Shivava, the Market Theatre, Sun City, Mofolo Superbowl (Soweto) and Robbie’s Place (with the Manhattan Brothers).

As part of Africa Day celebrations in 2012, Della shared a stage with Dorothy Masuka and Ringo Madlingozi at the Sanaa Africa Festival at Shine Studios in Braamfontein. Another 2012 highlight was a collaboration with the late Chiwoniso Maraire from Zimbabwe. At the 2013 Africa Day celebrations at Bassline, Della and his band performed alongside Lira and Thandiswa Mazwai. In late 2014, Della joined Wouter Kellerman's live band for Wouter's international CD launch in the USA and Australia of his latest album 'Winds of Samsara', which went on to win a Grammy in 2015 for Best New Age Album.