Sam Fan Thomas, born Samuel Thomas Ndonfeng in April 1952 in Bafoussam, Cameroon, is a highly regarded Cameroonian musician, singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist associated with the Makossa musical style, which he often refers to as Makassi. His career began in the late 1960s, and in the early 1970s, he gained experience as a guitarist in the Cameroonian band Tigres Noires, led by André-Marie Tala. After eight years with the band, Thomas launched his solo career in 1976, recording his first album, Funky New Bell, in Benin. He achieved his first major hit in Cameroon with the song "Rikiatou" (1982/1978) and then found international success with his 1984 album Makassi, which featured his most recognized work, the international dance-floor hit "African Typic Collection" (which earned him a gold disc). Thomas's musical style, Makassi, is an uptempo blend of makossa infused with influences from André-Marie Tala's tchamassi rhythm and other Bamileke folklore, and he is noted for his skills on the guitar, percussion, bass guitar, and keyboard. In addition to his own recordings, he has spent time promoting and guiding new Cameroonian artists through his own recording studio in Douala.