In the Sawa language from southwest Cameroon, ESA means evocative magic - ie contact with afterlife.
This mystical term is also the stage name chosen in 1986 by Georges Dayas WONJAMOUNA and Stephan Dayas Nguea, two brothers from Douala, the Cameroonian economic capital.
Born in a musical family (their grandfather was guitarist when Cameroon was a German protectorate), Stéphan and Georges were nurtured with African music popular during the 1960s (Makossa, Hi-life, Afrobeat, Congolese music) but also with Soul, Rhythm & Blues and Jazz their father imported from neighboring Nigeria.
These musical styles are the main sources of inspiration for singer Stephan voice whose models are Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, James Brown.
ESA's first album, "A MUTO", was published in 1986 in Cameroon and marked a turning point for Makossa while it immediately conquered public support. Though the 'beat' of the music remains fundamentally African and Cameroonian, it is a clever mix of African-American, jazz, Caribbean and European influences all supported by Stephan’s soulful and powerful voice.
Combining R’n'B, soul, zouk, makossa, hi-life, and other African rhythms, ESA is known from Ivory Coast to Gabon for several hits such as "Éyayé", "A Muto", "Ndima", "Ishuara", "Kaka Mulema (Hold on)", "Esoka (They Will Never Know)" ...
Since the death of his brother several years ago, Stephan has embodied alone the soul of the band and has continued their work.
Stephan “ESA” Dayas is back in 2013 with "JULIA", a seventh album with varied urban flavours which especially includes a new version of his 1987 hit "ÉYAYÉ" and a touching song about his autistic son "CARL".