# Locko

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**Charles Arthur Locko Samba** (born 8 May 1992), known professionally as **Locko**, is a Cameroonian singer, songwriter, and producer. He rose to prominence in 2015 with the hit single "Margo" and has since become one of the most prominent figures in French-speaking African contemporary music.

## Early life and education

Locko was born in [Douala](/source/Douala) and raised in a musical family. He learned to play the piano and guitar at a young age. He attended the National Polytechnic Institute of Douala, where he studied management before fully committing to a music career.[1]

## Career

### 2014–2017: Origins and Big Dreams

Locko first gained attention by posting covers of popular songs on [YouTube](/source/YouTube). In 2014, he signed with the independent label Big Dreams Entertainment. In 2015, he released his debut EP, *Skyzo*, which featured the hit singles "Margo" and "Ndutu". In 2016, his single "Sawa Romance" became a viral success across Francophone Africa.[2]

### 2018–present: Universal Music and Global Reach

In 2018, Locko became the first Cameroonian urban artist to sign a major distribution deal with [Universal Music Africa](/source/Universal_Music_Group). Under this label, he released his debut studio album, *The Bridge*, which featured collaborations with international artists like [Singuila](/source/Singuila).

In 2023, Locko won the Best Male Central Africa award at the [AFRIMMA](/source/AFRIMMA) awards.[3] His 2025/26 projects have seen him explore a more "Afro-fusion" sound, collaborating with younger artists such as [Loic Sumfor](/source/Loic_Sumfor).

## Discography

### Studio albums

- *The Bridge* (2018)
- *Cloud Nine* (2019)
- *Era* (2021)

### EPs

- *Skyzo* (2015)
- *Locked Up* (2022)

## Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result 2017 AFRIMMA Best Newcomer 2018 BET Awards Best International Act: Africa 2023 AFRIMMA Best Male Central Africa

## References

1. ["Locko: The Golden Boy of Cameroon"](https://www.panafricanmusic.com/en/locko/). *Pan African Music*. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2026.

1. ["Locko, the new face of Cameroonian R&B"](https://trace.tv/music/locko-the-new-face-of-cameroonian-rb/). *Trace TV*. Retrieved 24 March 2026.

1. ["AFRIMMA 2023 Winners List"](https://afrimma.com/2023-winners/). *AFRIMMA*. Retrieved 24 March 2026.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Locko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locko) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locko?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.