Jabulani Library

THE IVORIAN REGGAE SENSATION STILL GOING STRONG

June 04, 2026 - 11:58 AM In the 1980s, music was sold on audio cassettes. These cassettes, most of them pirated, were hawked on the streets and even in markets in rural areas. I remember visiting one cassette vendor and, upon checking his display, noticing that one musician dominated the board: Alpha Blondy, an Ivorian reggae sensation of the era. The music was also playing on a horn speaker in a stand hoisted by the vendor to market his music. Maybe it is for these reasons that Blondy's songs were on everyone's lips. His songs, "Masada" and "Brigadier Sabari," among many others, were household names at the time. R...

GEORGE FOMBE AKA YAHOOS

May 24, 2026 - 04:00 PM George Fombe, aka "Yahoos," was a big name in audio production in the entire East African region in the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond. This name featured prominently in what Congolese refer to as "kobwaka libanga," a term that means mentioning a name in a song. The name was also mentioned at the commencement of almost all VOK programs in those days. It went beyond that; despite not always getting a direct mention, George Fombe was the sound technician behind several audio commercials aired by the state broadcaster in those days. When you hear "Sportsman ni sawa hasa," a very popular advertisement for a British American Tobacco cigarette brand, it was recorded by George Fombe. George Fombe,......

RUMBA IT IS; NOT LINGALA

May 18, 2026 - 09:35 PM The distinction between rumba and Lingala is among the most frequently debated topics in online music forums and conversations about African music. There seems to be persistent confusion over the meaning of the two terms a confusion that may endure for a long time. In a recent post by one of our fans on our Facebook page, the question came up: “What is the difference between rhumba and Lingala?” the fan asked. Perhaps no explanation can ever settle the matter completely, but the difference between the two is actually broad and quite clear. We begin with the word “rhumba.” According to several dictionaries, rhumba is a collective noun for rattlesnakes. Strictly......

M'BILIA BEL - BEYANGA LYRICS

May 11, 2026 - 02:44 PM Na Silika nakozua eloko nini e(What will I get if I get angry at you?)Na tomboka nakozua reponse nini o(What will I achieve if I become mad at you?)Moto soko akoli na ezaleli banda na bomwana naye(if someone is used to doing something since their childhood)Akoki kosilisa na mokolo moke te tika a sala(He can never stop doing it in his adulthood/he can't change)Nakoswana swana se pamba, ezali motindo na ye(It is useless to quarrel with other women over him because it's his habit)Na ndimaka te nalingi ye, ebongi na vanda na ngai(I don't believe I love him, I deserve to live alone)Libala oyo ba mbanda bipayi binso(to stay away from this marriage of co-wives everywhere)Nakotisi moto na singa,......

THE GIFTED SINGER WITH STRIKING CHARM

May 08, 2026 - 02:00 PM Tall, light in complexion, and handsome, Ignace Mpoyi Kanyinda had a charming look that made him a star attraction in all OK Jazz (OKJ) concerts that he graced. Women scrambled for space to catch a closer glimpse, while some screamed in excitement. That wasn’t all about Djo Mpoyi, however. Behind the looks was a wonderful singer with an expressive high tenor that uniquely laced compositions with emotion. Bolingo ebeti ngai fimbo, oh mama ah, (This love is battering me) Ngai naleli eh, oh mama ah (It makes me cry) Nazangi molongani, oh cheri eh (Deprives me of a confidante) This is an excerpt from the song “Nabali Misere,” which translates to “I am married to......

THE DEATH OF THE MASTERPIECE

May 05, 2026 - 02:00 AM Let’s be honest: your "Recommended" playlist is starting to feel like a dream you never asked for. You’re scrolling through TikTok, and your favorite influencer suddenly gets caught up in a massive public scandal that has everyone talking. Before the dust even settles, they’re dropping a "club banger" to capitalize on the drama. You hop over to the "Trending in Kenya" tab to see what’s hot, and every single track has that same shiny, predictable beat and a hook that starts before you can even take a breath. It’s not your imagination; we are in a tug-of-war between music that comes from the heart and songs made by a computer program. We’ve traded the......

MUKABI PAINTED HIS WAY TO GLOBAL RECOGNITION

April 30, 2026 - 01:10 PM The Dust Depo Studios at the Old Railways Museum in Nairobi wear a forlorn face. An unfinished canvas stretches on the stand, waiting for the brush to give it the final touches, oblivious to the reality that the man whose acumen graced the art has breathed his last. The brushes, the paints, and the palette share the ignorance. Just like the canvas, they too have no idea that the man whose passion and skills turned canvases into marvelous paintings is no more and will not be visiting the studios again. Sunset has come for the "barefoot philosopher" who walked without shoes in the studios, saying he couldn't reason well while wearing shoes. Renowned painter Patrick Mukabi died last week at......

SHOW ME THE WAY BY PAPA WEMBA LYRICS WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION

April 24, 2026 - 11:00 AM Take me by the hand … Show me the way, I can go.Take me by the hand … Show me the way Ngai na bugui nzela ehPo bo tikaki nga mosika ehYango na komaki se mitelengano ohKoko lakisa nga nzela eh I lost my way Because you left me far behind That's why I wandered aimlessly Grandfather (mother) shows me the way Ndege nini oh ngai oh, baningaNa ko luka nzela ya bomoiPo bato ya mokili mabe eh yoBa boyi ngai na zua lobiko oh Friends why me I lose the way of life People are bad They do not want me to succeed tomorrow ChorusTake me by the hand … Show me the way, I can go.Take me by the hand … Show me the way Take me by the hand … Show me......

FROM STAGE TO PRISON TO STAGE: THE STORY OF NGUZA VIKING

April 22, 2026 - 07:31 PM A debate on musicians dabbling in crime, whether alleged or actually committed, cannot end without mentioning the story of Nguza Viking, aka Babu Seya, and his son, Papi Kocha. Nguza and his son were both incarcerated in a Dar es Salaam prison in Tanzania for 15 years. The story drew the interest and attention of the entire region, with the international community seeking to intervene. To understand Nguza, we must introduce a band known as Maquis du Zaire. Nguza, also known as Field Marshal, was a lethal soloist with the band. His unique solo guitar can be sampled in the song "Wakati Nilikuwa Mdogo" from the Karubandika album. Maquis du Zaire began in Katanga in the mid-1960s under the......

THE LES MANGELEPA FAMILY IN MOURNING

April 13, 2026 - 04:01 PM Twikale Kalonda, a renowned Congolese musician based in Nairobi, has passed away. News of his death was shared on social media by various fans yesterday. Speaking to Jabulani Radio by phone from Nairobi, fellow Congolese musician Bua Mangala ka Loboko Passie confirmed that Twikale died in a hospital in Lubumbashi. Loboko, who previously played with Super Mazembe, noted that Twikale had struggled with a leg injury for a long time. Twikale was one of the key talents behind the success of Les Mangelepa. As a versatile guitarist, he played both bass and rhythm, featuring on rhythm guitar in hit songs such as "Mtukufu Moi," "James Osogo," and "Malawi Zikomo." His colleague in the rhythm guitar......

Jabulani Library

THE IVORIAN REGGAE SENSATION STILL GOING STRONG

GEORGE FOMBE AKA YAHOOS

RUMBA IT IS; NOT LINGALA

M'BILIA BEL - BEYANGA LYRICS

THE GIFTED SINGER WITH STRIKING CHARM

THE DEATH OF THE MASTERPIECE

MUKABI PAINTED HIS WAY TO GLOBAL RECOGNITION

SHOW ME THE WAY BY PAPA WEMBA LYRICS WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION

FROM STAGE TO PRISON TO STAGE: THE STORY OF NGUZA VIKING

THE LES MANGELEPA FAMILY IN MOURNING

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Jabulani Library

THE IVORIAN REGGAE SENSATION STILL GOING STRONG

GEORGE FOMBE AKA YAHOOS

RUMBA IT IS; NOT LINGALA

M'BILIA BEL - BEYANGA LYRICS

THE GIFTED SINGER WITH STRIKING CHARM

THE DEATH OF THE MASTERPIECE

MUKABI PAINTED HIS WAY TO GLOBAL RECOGNITION

SHOW ME THE WAY BY PAPA WEMBA LYRICS WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION

FROM STAGE TO PRISON TO STAGE: THE STORY OF NGUZA VIKING

THE LES MANGELEPA FAMILY IN MOURNING

News

Jabulani Library (264)

Artist Spotlight (25)

Editor's Choice (27)

Jabulani Library: Most Popular (46)

Jabulani News Archive (32)

Music Lyrics (57)

Playlists (3)

Playlists 2 (0)

RhumbaChronicles2 (0)

Trending (25)

Jabulani Swahili (9)

Rumba Chronicles (30)

Programs

JABULANI TOP 7 AT 7

WEEKEND RHUMBA OVERDOSE REPLAY

TOP 10 AT 10

WEEKEND SOUKOUS ODYSSEY

BENGA BLAST

RHUMBA REVIVAL

Latest podcasts

Legend Franco Luambo Makaidi

Find us on

Contact us

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