Musical Duo Okali Blends Cameroon and France in Debut EP

When Gaëlle Minali-Bella left Cameroon for France at age 12, she slowly forgot how to speak her native language Eton. But making music brought it all back.

This month, Minali-Bella and her French partner Florent Sorin released their debut EP as Okali, a project years in the making. The name means "pay attention to others" in Eton, and it was Minali-Bella's name before she was adopted.

The duo creates something special by blending their backgrounds. Minali-Bella sings in English, French, and Eton while Sorin crafts beats that mix African music, trip hop, and dub. Their influences range from Massive Attack to Cameroonian legend Manu Dibango to Björk.

For Minali-Bella, the EP represents a return to her African roots. Music became the key that unlocked memories and language she thought were lost forever.

"Music helped me rediscover my dialect, my origins and, inevitably, my history and my childhood memories," she explained. "I don't express myself the same way in my dialect as when I sing in French or English. The feelings aren't the same. But that's precisely what blending cultures is all about."

Why This Inspires

Minali-Bella's journey shows how creativity can help us reconnect with parts of ourselves we thought were gone. Growing up with her French adoptive family, she gradually lost her first language. But when she started making music, Eton came flooding back naturally, carrying childhood memories with it.

Sorin found his own inspiration traveling to Cameroon, where the trance-like patterns of Afrobeat struck him deeply. Together, they're creating something that honors both their backgrounds without forcing either one to dominate.

The duo will tour France and Switzerland this summer, and fans should expect surprises. They love changing their arrangements and vocal versions on stage, keeping each performance fresh and spontaneous.

Their music proves that cultural fusion isn't about choosing one identity over another. It's about letting all parts of who you are speak in harmony.