His musical journey began at an early age, inspired by genres like Benga, Taarab, and Rhumba, and by legendary musicians such as Fadhili Williams, Daudi Kabaka, and Orchestra Super Mazembe. He credits his paternal grandfather, who was a performer during public holidays, for passing down the musical torch.

After finishing his secondary education, Mwamburi was recruited to the Air Force as an artist in 1982. The following year, after being discharged from the armed forces, he was signed by the Simba Wanyika band. In 1987, he joined Les Wanyika as a vocalist, where he co-created hits like "Mama Watoto" and "Lipi la Ajabu."

Seeking more creative control, Mwamburi left Les Wanyika and formed his own band, Everest Kings. His career skyrocketed in 1992 with the release of "Stella Wangu," a song that narrates a personal story of heartbreak. The song tells of how he met a woman named Stella, a student at the University of Nairobi, in 1991. He supported her studies, including her trip to Japan for further education. The heartbreak came on May 17, 1992, the day she returned, accompanied by a new partner and a child from that relationship, a moment he describes in the song. Despite the heartbreak, Mwamburi is married to Dorcas Nduku, and they have five children.

Mwamburi has continued to record music, with other songs including "Safari ya Mombasa," "Panga Mipango," and the recently released "Wakesho." In 2021, he released a remix of "Stella Wangu." He remains an iconic figure in the Kenyan music industry.

Around 1981, M'Benza relocated to Paris, which became his base for prolifically recording and touring the world. His status as a highly sought-after session musician allowed him to shape countless albums for other artists, but he is best known as a key member of two significant groups. In 1982, he co-founded the immensely popular soukous "supergroup" Les Quatre Étoiles (The Four Stars) with Nyboma, Wuta Mayi, and Bopol Mansiamina, becoming one of the genre's leading exponents. Later, in 2000, M'Benza co-founded the acoustic rumba revival band Kékélé as a conscious return to the slower, more melodic styles of the 1950s and 60s, a project he undertook with other veteran musicians to combat what he saw as the decadence of 1990s Congolese music. M'Benza's guitar playing is characterized by fast, sparkling runs that circle a theme, establishing him as one of Africa's finest and most influential guitarists.

History

He was born on 21 February 1945 in then Leopoldville, now Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the largest city in that country. Mangwana's parents were native of neighboring Angola. His father was a Zimbabwean, who was born in Chivi. Over the years Sam Mangwana has visited his relatives in Zimbabwe.

Mangwana made his professional debut in 1963 with the Congo-Kinshasa rumba band, African Fiesta, owned and led by Tabu Ley Rochereau. Mangwana moved across the Congo River to Brazzaville where he formed a short-lived group called Los Batchichas. He also worked with the more established Negro Band and Orchestre Tembo. He then crossed back to Kinshasa where he joined Tabu Ley, whose band was now known as African Fiesta National.

In 1967, Mangwana again left to form Festival des Maquisards. The band included notable recording artists; vocalists Dalienst and Madilu System, guitarist Dizzy Mandjeku and lead guitarist Michelino. Two years later, Sam Mangwana was on the move again. He recorded duos with a guitarist called Jean Paul "Guvano" Vangu, until 1972.

In 1972 he joined TPOK Jazz, led by Franco. Mangwana often played lead singer on compositions by OK Jazz guitarist Simaro Lutumba. His popularity increased during this time. The collaboration with Simaro yielded three hits: "Ebale ya Zaire", "Cedou" and "Mabele". He left OK Jazz and briefly to re-joined Tabu Ley's band, now called Afrisa. He then left again, this time moving to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, in West Africa. In 1978 he formed, along with others, the band African All Stars.

When the All Stars broke up in 1979, he became a solo artist. He recorded and toured with varying combinations of musicians. Maria Tebbo (1980) with remnants of the All Stars, Coopération (1982) with Franco, Canta Moçambique (1983) with Mandjeku, and albums with saxophonist Empompo Loway under the names Tiers Monde Coopération and Tiers Monde Révolution were highlights of his career in the 1980s.

Due to his frequent goings and comings, he won the nickname "pigeon voyageur" (travelling pigeon). In the 2000s, Mangwana spent most of his time in Angola, emerging periodically to perform concerts in Europe.

Band memberships

• African Fiesta, 1962
• Festival des Maquisards, 1968
• TPOK Jazz, 1972
• African Fiesta National
• Afrisa International
• African All Stars, 1978

Discography

• African All Stars: Les Champions, 1977
• Sam Mangwana et l'African All Stars: Georgette Eckins, 1978
• Théo-Blaise Kounkou et l'African All Stars: Zenaba (1978)
• Sam Mangwana et l'African All Stars: International Sam Mangwana (1979)
• Waka Waka, 1978
• Maria Tebbo, 1979
• Georgette Eckins, 1979
• Matinda, 1979
• Affaire Disco, 1981
• Est-ce Que Tu Moyens?, 1981
• Cooperation, 1982
• Affaire Video, 1982
• N'Simba Eli, 1982
• Bonne Annee, 1983
• In Nairobi, 1984
• Aladji, 1987
• For Ever, 1989
• Lukolo, 1989
• Capita General, 1990
• Megamix, July 1990
• Rumba Music, 1993
• No Me Digas No, 1995
• Galo Negro, 1998
• Sam Mangwana Sings Dino Vangu, 2000
• Volume 1 Bilinga Linga 1968/1969, June 2000
• Volume 2 Eyebana 1980/1984, June 2000
• Very Best of 2001, March 2001
• Cantos de Esperanca, April 2003
• Lubamba, 2016

With TPOK Jazz

• Lufua Lua Nkadi - Sung by Sam Mangwana, Michel Boyibanda, Josky Kiambukuta and Lola Checain in 1972.
• Luka Mobali Moko -Sung by Sam Mangwana, Josky Kiambukuta, Michèl Boyibanda and Lola Chécain, in 1974.

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide to Congo Gold (2008, World Music Network)

See also

• Ndombe Opetum
• Josky Kiambukuta
• Lola Checain
• Michel Boyibanda
• Wuta Mayi
• Bopol Mansiamina

References

External links

• Flemming Harrev, Sam Mangwana and Congolese Music (biography and discography), 2005 version
• Flemming Harrev, Sam Mangwana profile, most recent version

[There is significant overlap between these, and also with Flemming Harrev's liner notes for Sam Mangwana's 1989 Canta Mocambique album.]

The defining moment of Franco’s career came in 1956 when he co-founded the band OK Jazz with Jean Serge Essous. Initially a sextet that got its name from the bar where they had a residency, Franco took over as bandleader around 1958 and never relinquished control, guiding the band—later renamed Tout-Puissant Orchestre Kinois de Jazz (TPOK Jazz) or "The Almighty Kinshasa Jazz Orchestra"—for over three decades. Under his leadership, TPOK Jazz grew into an African music powerhouse, at times boasting over 50 members. Franco's distinct guitar style, marked by polyrhythmic sophistication and intricate multi-string plucking, laid the foundation for the "OK Jazz School" of Congolese rumba, a style that evolved into the infectious sound of soukous and came to dominate Africa's airwaves.

Throughout his prolific career, Franco was a dynamic social commentator, satirist, and praise singer, composing an estimated over 1,000 songs and releasing more than 150 albums. His lyrics fearlessly tackled themes of love, marriage, rivalries, and politics, often leading to controversy and, on at least two occasions, brief jail sentences, notably for the lyrics of "Helene" and "Jackie" in 1978. Despite these troubles, he became deeply intertwined with the political elite, aligning himself with President Mobutu Sese Seko, who later named him a "Grand Maître of Zairean Music" and an "Officer of the National Order of the Leopard." Franco’s massive popularity spread across the African continent and beyond, securing his place as one of the most significant and influential African musicians of all time. Franco died in Brussels on October 12, 1989, at the age of 51, after a long illness widely believed to be AIDS, an issue he had publicly addressed in his 1987 song "Attention na SIDA." His death prompted four days of national mourning in Zaire, cementing his legacy as an enduring cultural icon.

Muana started her artistic career as a dancer for the musical band Tsheke Tsheke Love in 1977 before turning to singing. She is famous for several songs such as "Karibu Yangu". She toured widely overseas, won several awards on the national, continental and global scene and recorded over 20 albums. Her music has appeared in the soundtrack of the popular 1987 Congolese musical film La Vie est Belle and Aya of Yop City .

Biography

Tshala Muana was born on 13 March 1958, in Lubumbashi, then part of the Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was the second of ten children of Amadeus Muidikayi, a soldier, and Alphonsine Bambiwa Tumba, a housewife.

In 1964, when Muana Muidikay was 6 years old, her father was murdered. She was raised by her mother, who died in 2005.

In June 2020 she was rumored to have died, but was instead hospitalized after having suffered a stroke.

In November 2020, Muana was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR), reportedly for her song "Ingratitude", which was interpreted by many to be a veiled criticism of President Felix Tshisekedi, toward his former mentor and predecessor, President Joseph Kabila. The singer was a public supporter of former President Joseph Kabila and his party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD).

On 10 December 2022, Tshala Muana died in Kinshasa, at the age of 64.

Discography

Albums

• 1982: Kangungu
• 1983: Tshala Muana à Paris [volumes 1 to 4]
• 1984: Tshala Muana
• 1985: M'Pokolo
• 1985: Kami
• 1988: Nasi Nabali
• 1988: La Divine
• 1988: Biduaya
• 1989: Munanga
• 1990: Tshibola
• 1990: Mady
• 1990: Tshala Muana Dans Un Duo Pour L'Éternité With Papa Wemba
• 1991: The Flying Star
• 1994: Ntambue
• 1996: Mutuashi
• 1999: Pika Pende
• 2003: Malu
• 2004: Tshanza
• 2007: Tshikuna Fou
• 2009: Sikila
• 2016: Lunzenze

Singles and EPs

• 1981: "Amina" / "Tshebele"
• 1987: "Antidote"
• 1988: "Karibu Yangu"

References

External links

• Tshalamuana.ifrance.com
• Discography
• Tshala Muana discography at Discogs
• Rumba on the River bio of Tshala Muana
• Tshala Muana at IMDb

Biography

Early life and musical career

Bel became successful at a young age, inspired by her father, who played guitar. She joined the local church choir, where her artistry for singing expeditiously became conspicuous. At the age of seventeen, Bel began her performing career, singing as a backup singer for Abeti Masikini, the "Queen of Perfumed Soukous," and later with Sam Mangwana. In the late 1980s, she caught the attention of Tabu Ley Rochereau, who recognized her preternatural vocal abilities. Rochereau took her to join his band, Orchestre Afrisa International, and became her mentor in 1981. As Tabu Ley's protegee, she leveraged his composing genius and her own voice to produce many hits for l'Orchestre Afrisa International.

In 1981, Bel soared to prominence with the release of her debut solo studio album, Eswi Yo Wapi, with Orchestre Afrisa International. In 1982, she released her second song with Afrisa, Mpeve Ya Longo (Holy Spirit in Kikongo), a moving song about spousal abuse. In the song, she tells the story of a woman who had been abandoned by her husband and has to raise her children herself. The song was popular, especially among woman in Zaire.

By the mid-1980s, she officially married Tabu Ley. The birth of her first child prompted her to take a break from performing. However, she reunited with Rochereau for an album in 1987 before eventually relocating to Paris in 1988. There, she started working with guitarist Rigo Star Bamundele and, between 1989 and early 1990, toured the United States, Great Britain, and West Africa. During this time, Tabu Ley recruited another female artist, Kishila Ngoyi (known as Faya Tess), to accompany Bel. l'Orchestre Afrisa International continued to achieve success, with their tour to Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda resulting in several hit albums.

After her departure from Afrisa, both the band's popularity and Bel's solo career experienced a decline. However, she made a triumphant comeback in 2004 with the release of her album "Bellissimo" (meaning "very beautiful" in Italian). The album received excellent reviews.

Her music

Bel's debut solo studio album, released in 1981, was Eswi yo Wapi. The album's eponymous single, which roughly translates to "Where did it hurt you?", was composed by both Tabu Ley and M'bilia Bel. The song won the award for the Best Song of 1982 in Zaire, and Bel won the award for best newcomer. Other songs on the album such as Tabu Ley's "Lisanga ya Bambanda," "Kelhia," and Dino Vangu's "Quelle Mechancete," were big hits for Afrisa International. Afrisa's popularity began to rival that of François Luambo's band TP.OK Jazz. Bel swiftly became the main attraction at Afrisa's concerts in the Congo and wherever they toured, often whipping huge crowds into a delirium when she joined the Rocherettes (dancers) in their routines. By the mid-1980s, Bel officially married Tabu Ley and gave birth to a daughter named Melody Tabu.

Bel's songs continued to dominate the Congolese music scene, among them "Mobali na ngai wana" ("This Husband of Mine"), composed by Tabu Ley and Roger Izeidi, an adaptation of a traditional song in Lingala with a Rap/animation of Bayanzi. In the song, Bel praises her husband as being winsome, elegant and efficacious and stresses that even though he has the opportunity to choose from any of Kinshasa's beautiful women, he chose her. Other songs that dominated the charts during her reign in Afrisa included "Balle a terre", "Bameli soy", "Ba gerants ya Mabala", "Keyna", "Cadence Mudanda", "Bafosami", "Nakei Nairobi", "Ba jeux de Coin", "Paka Wewe", "Boya Ye", "Yamba Ngai", "ShaWuri Yako" "Beyanga", and "La Beaute D'une Femme".

In 1987, Afrisa toured East Africa, particularly Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, culminating in the album Nadina, which had Lingala and Swahili versions of the title song. The tour was well received. M'bilia Bel took center stage, overshadowing other Afrisa artists including Ndombe Opetum, who had returned from T.P OK Jazz. Upon their return to Kinshasa, rumours started surfacing about a rift between Tabu ley and M'bilia Bel. Both publicly denied having any problems when they were interviewed by journalists.

Solo career

Bel quit the band late in early 1988 to embark on a solo career. She briefly utilized a Gabonese producer in Libreville before leaving for Paris, where she joined guitarist Rigo Star Bamundele. Her first album with Rigo Star, entitled Phénomène, was a huge success in Kinshasa as well as abroad. Subsequent releases such as Desolé, 8/10 Benedicta, Yalowa, and Exploration met with limited success.

Following the departure of M'bilia Bel, the popularity of Afrisa International as a band decreased substantially. Tabu Ley himself seemed to lose inspiration for composing as is evidenced by the substantial reduction in the number of albums released. With the exception of her debut album, Phénomène, Bel's career also lost energy when she left Afrisa. She lived in Paris for almost six years to expand her European horizons, but in 1996, M'bilia Bel decided to return home to try to regain her place in the Congolese music scene. This time she approached Maestro Suzy Kaseya, well-known for his work with another Congolese singer, Tshala Muana. In 2001, Bel and Suzy released a CD of 10 tracks entitled Welcome, a huge success that won her a "Kora Award" for Best Female Vocalist of Central African. Tshala Muana received the same award in the same year. In 2004, M'bilia Bel and Suzy Kaseya released their second collaboration Belissimo, but the album was not a success. The local Congolese press accused the singer of neglecting to promote the album by refusing to meet with them that year. M'bilia Bel's title as Queen of Congolese rumba was also threatened by the ascent of young singers such as Marie José Njiba Mbuyi (Mj30) and Cindy Le Coeur. However, by 2009 she was collaborating with Lutumaba Simaro, one of the guitar masters of Congolese rumba, to interpret his song "Mobali Ya Bato", which quickly topped the charts. In 2010, M'bilia Bel traveled to Canada and Colombia for concerts. When she performed at the 3rd Afro-Colombian Champeta Festival in Cartagena with guitarist Lokassa Ya Mbongo, the then mayor Judith Pinedo Flórez gave her the key to city.

After this tour, M'bilia Bel released a 2011 CD called The Queen with 13 songs, including a special track "Immigration Fatale", a song by singer Nyboma about the death of African children who cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life in Europe.

In 2020 she appeared as one of the main acts at Festival Amani where she was appreciated by the 36,000 attendees. Her set included the hits Mpeve ya Longo and Yamba Nga from the 1980s.

Discography

Albums

Contributing artist

• 2008: The Rough Guide to Congo Gold (World Music Network)

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Oliver N'Goma (23 March 1959 - 7 June 2010) was a Gabonese afro-zouk and soukous singer and guitarist. He was born in Mayumba in south-west Gabon in 1959. He is best known for his 1990 song Bane.

N'Goma's was first exposed to music by his father, a teacher and harmonium player. N'Goma took his first music lessons at the age of eight, and began performing for audiences in 1971, after his family left Mayumba for the Gabonese capital, Libreville so that he could attend school. While taking classes in accounting, he joined the school band, called Capo Sound, with whom he learned to play guitar. The group performed at formal events, honing N'Goma's ability to perform on-stage. In 1988, N'Goma's love of film led him to a job with Gabon TV, where he worked in France as a cameraman.

In Paris, N'Goma completed his demo tapes, which he had recorded at home in Gabon. He shared this music with Manu Lima, a well-known Cape Verdean record producer. Lima was impressed with N'Goma's music and handled the artistic direction of his first record, Bane.

The album enjoyed modest success until receiving heavy airplay in Africa. In particular, the title track rose in popularity in Africa, France, and the French West Indies, as a party anthem. The album is one of the best-selling African albums to date.

N'Goma released a second album, Adia in December 1995, again working with Manu Lima. Five years later, N'Goma released his third album, Seva, without the help of Lima. In 2006, the pair reunited for Saga. A greatest hits compilation, Best of Oliver N'Goma was released in 2004.

• Bane (1990)
• Adia (1995)
• Séva (2001)
• Saga (2006)
• Lusa (1990)
• Icole(1990)
• Muetse (1995)
• Ellie(-)
• Nelly(-)
• Helena(-)
• Nge(-)
• Alphosine(-)
• Shado(-)
• Elode(-)

Oliver N’Goma died from kidney failure, which he had battled for the last two years of his life, on 7 June 2010 at Omar Bongo Hospital in Libreville, Gabon.

• His song "Adia" was featured in the Claire Denis film Beau Travail.
• His song "Nge" was sampled in the Fivio Foreign song Self Made.

• List of Soukous musicians

• Hanssen, Bjørn-Erik. "Oliver N'Goma". The Leopard Man's African Music Guide. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2006.

Early life

Simaro was born in Uíge Province, Angola.

Music career with OK Jazz

Simaro started playing with Franco Luambo, the founder of OK Jazz, in 1961. They were later joined by Josky Kiambukuta and Ndombe Opetum. Youlou Mabiala and Madilu System also played with OK Jazz, before their solo careers. Simaro served as Vice President of the band for many years and led the group during Franco's long trips to Europe during the 1980s. His composition of the band's hit song 'Mabele' earned him the nickname 'Poet'. DRC authorities jailed him, Franco and other musicians, for two obscene songs in the late 1970s. Simaro is considered as one of the greatest poets, singers and philosophers of Congolese music.

Discography

Simaro is credited with composing many songs for the band, including:

• Likambo Zi Tu Zoto Esilkata Te - Sung by Michel Boyibanda, Josky Kiambukuta and Sam Mangwana
• Oko Regretter Ngai Mama - Sung by Michel Boyibanda, Josky Kiambukuta, Wuta Mayi and Lola Checain
• Bodutaka - Sung by Sam Mangwana, Michèl Boyibanda, Josky Kiambukuta and Lola Chécain
• Mabele - Sung by Sam Mangwana
• Eau Benite - Sung by Madilu System
• Maya - Sung by Carlyto Lassa
• Testament ya Bowule - Sung by Malage de Lugendo
• Vaccination - Sung by Kiesse Diambu
• Ebale ya Zaire - Sung by Sam Mangwana
• Faute Ya Commercant - Sung by Sam Mangwana
• Cedou - Sung by Sam Mangwana, Michel Boyibanda & Franco
• Bisalela - Sung by Youlou Mabiala, Josky Kiambukuta, Michel Boyibanda and Wuta Mayi
• Mbongo - Sung by Djo Mpoyi
• Salle d'attente - Sung by Ferre Gola, Josky Kiambukuta, M'bilia Bel and Papa Wemba
• Kadima - Sung by Djo Mpoyi

Music career post OKJazz

Following Franco's death in 1989, Simaro agreed to continue the band, sharing 30% of revenue with the late band leader's family. In 1993 OKJazz split over disagreements how funds were shared. Simaro and 30 OKJazz musicians formed Bana OK in 1994.

Death

Simaro Massiya Lutumba died in a hospital in Paris, France, on Saturday 30 March 2019. The musician was known to suffer from diabetes and hypertension.

See also

• African Rumba
• Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Francois Luambo Makiadi
• List of African musicians

References

External links

• Interview With Simaro Lutumba In 2002
• Overview of TPOK Jazz - Written In 2012

He was born in Matadi in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He moved to Kinshasa, where he finished secondary school, in the early 1970s (or in 1977 according to one source, but that year is contradicted by other information in the same and other sources). After finishing school he was a member of several 1970s Kinshasa bands: he sang with Super Tukina who recorded his first hit, "Satonge," then he joined Super Bella Bella alongside Jean Bosco and Mongoley, a guitarist formerly of Orchestre Lipua Lipua, and he also played with Bariza and Saka Saka.

Mapangala moved to Uganda in 1975 where he and some other Congolese musicians formed the Les Kinois band. They moved to Nairobi in 1977. He formed a new band, the Orchestra Virunga, in 1981. The band is named after Virunga volcano located in Congo.

Orchestra Virunga released their first album, It's Disco Time with Samba Mapangala in 1982. In the early 1990s the group gained some international popularity through album releases like Virunga Volcano and Feet on Fire.

He has continued to record, and is still one of the leading musicians in East Africa. He is now based in the United States . Mapangala began performing with Occidental Brothers Dance Band International in the fall of 2009.

Mapangala is considered one of the golden era of Kenyan Lingala music acts alongside Les Mangelepa, Baba Gaston and Super Mazembe.

At the 2004 Tanzania Music Awards his album Ujumbe was nominated in the best African Album category.

Discography

Albums

• It's Disco Time with Samba Mapangala (1982)
• Mabiala (1983)
• Evasion, vol. 2 (1983)
• Malako (1984) [re-release of "Disco Time"]
• Safari (1988) (Kenyan cassette)
• Vunja Mifupa (1989) (CBS Kenya IVA 071, cassette)
• Paris-Nairobi (1990) (European cassette)
• Virunga Volcano 1990 (Earthworks, CD) [re-release of "Malako"/"Disco Time" / plus 2 songs]
• Feet On Fire (1990 or 1991)(Stern's Africa STCD 1036, CD)
• Karibu Kenya (1995) (Sun Music, CD)
• Vunja Mifupa (1997) (Lusam 01, CD)
• Song and Dance (2006"]
• Ujumbe (2001) (Stern's / Earthworks STEW43CD)
• Virunga Roots Volume 1 (2004) (Samba Mapangala)
• Virunga or Samba Mapangala In Paris (?) [Kenyan cassette, 4 songs from "Virunga Roots Volume 1"]
• Song and Dance (2006) (Virunga Records)
• African Classics: Samba Mapangala & Virunga (2008) (Sheer Sound)
• Live on Tour (2009)
• Maisha Ni Matamu (Life Is Sweet) (2011)

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide to the Music of Kenya and Tanzania (1996) (World Music Network)

References

External links

• Virunga records
• African Music Encyclopaedia Entry
• African Music Profiles Page

Relevant literature

• Rosenberg, Aaron L. "Making the case for popular songs in East Africa: Samba Mapangala and Shaaban Robert." Research in African Literatures (2008): 99-120.

He is known for the structural changes he implemented to soukous music. The previous approach was to sing several verses and have one guitar solo at the end of the song. Kanda Bongo Man revolutionized soukous by encouraging guitar solos after every verse and even sometimes at the beginning of the song. His form of soukous gave birth to the kwassa kwassa dance rhythm where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.

Like many African rumba and soukous musicians before him, Kanda Bongo Man also had an entourage of musicians. Many of Kanda's musicians later moved on to start their own solo careers. Most notable of these was Diblo Dibala. Known as "Machine Gun", Diblo Dibala was a vital part of Kanda Bongo Man's lineup on several albums, playing guitar on both Kwasa Kwasa and Amour Fou.

Kanda Bongo Man still tours in Europe and the United States. In July 2005 he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling concert in Cornwall. He has performed several times at the Africa Oyé Festival in Liverpool, most recently in June 2022.

Discography

• Iyole (1981)
• Djessy (1982)
• Amour Fou (1984)
• Malinga (1985)
• Lela Lela (1986)
• Sai Liza (1987)
• Kwassa Kwassa (1989)
• Isambe Monie (1990)
• Zing Zong (1991)
• Sango (1992)
• Le Rendez-vous des Stades (1993)
• Soukous in Central Park (1993)
• Welcome to South Africa (1995)
• Francophonix (1999)
• Balobi (2002)
• Swalati (2003)
• Non-Stop Feeling (2010)
• Sweet (2010)
• Yolele! Live in Concert (2021)
• Kekete Bue (2022)

Notes

References

• The African Music Encyclopedia: Music From Africa and the African Diaspora

External links

• Official website
• Soukous.com Kanda Biography

The type of music he is known for is called Benga, a popular style in East Africa. His best-known songs include "African Twist", "Harambee Harambee" and "Western Shilo".

His song "Helule Helule" was covered by The Tremeloes and it became a hit in the United Kingdom.

Daudi Kabaka is also known for his Kenyan classic "Harambee Harambee" which largely reflects the aspirations of post-colonial Kenya to build their nation. One of his famous songs; "Msichana wa Elimu" is still popularly played in the Kenyan media houses as it advises about marriage. He collaborated with John Nzenze on three songs: "Masista", "Bachelor Boy" and "Nyumba za Tobacco". These songs were released by Jambo Records and became hits. Kabaka released the album Pesa Maradhi Ya Moyo with Maroon Commandos in 1986.

Defao (31 December 1958 - 27 December 2021) was a Congolese singer-songwriter. He was a member of the prominent soukous groups Grand Zaiko Wawa and Choc Stars.

He formed his own group, Big Stars, in 1991, which accompanied him in all his performances. He has composed several hits, most since the late 1980s, including "Amour Scolaire", "Famille Kikuta", and "Solange Lima." He died from complications of COVID-19 in Douala, Cameroon, on 27 December 2021, four days shy of his 63rd birthday.

Early life and musical beginnings

Defao was born as Lulendo Matumona on 31 December 1958, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo,.

Matumona moved to Inkisi in 1976, where he remained until 1981 when guitarist Félix Manuaku Waku came to recruit him to join his group, Grand Zaiko Wawa. After joining the Kinshasa-based band, he released his first vinyl, the single "Salima Na Ngai".

Musical career

Defao left Grand Zaiko Wawa in 1983 to join Choc Stars. Members included Ben Nyamabo, Bozi Boziana and Roxy Tshimpaka. Matumona worked on all the group's albums in the 80s, composing hits like "Ozi", "Déserteur", "Mister X" and "Chagrin Dimone".

Big Stars

In 1991, he decided to leave Choc Stars to create his own band, Big Stars, alongside Djo Poster Mumbata (also a former member of Grand Zaiko Wawa). Big Stars has revealed several talented singers including Montana Kamenga, Kabosé Bulembi, Théo Mbala, but also musicians such as Serge Kasongo Mboka Liya (AKA Burkina Faso) and Jagger Bokoko.

During Big Stars' early years, Defao enjoyed a very creative and productive period. In the 1990s he released at least seventeen albums, six of which hit the European market. He is recognized as a solo artist in the same league as Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomidé, Bozi Boziana and Kester Emeneya.

His seventh solo album, "Amour Scolaire", published in 1992, contains the eponymous hit which placed at the top of the Zairian hit parades. Likewise for "Famille Kikuta", released in 1994. The song revealed to him to audiences in East Africa, where it is popular to this day.

Following the "ndombolo" wave, between the years 1997 and 1998, Matumona released the albums "Sala Noki" and "Copinage" (the latter in collaboration with Mbilia Bel).

Big Stars Hiatus

In 2000, Defao disbanded Big Stars after a disagreement with its musicians. The band reformed in the late 2010s.

Solo career, later years and death

Defao signed a record contract in 2000 with JPS Productions and proceeded to record his solo album "Nessy De London" with session musicians based in Paris including Nyboma, Wuta Mayi, Dally Kimoko, 3615 Code Niawu and Djudjuchet Luvengoka.Defao then became inactive until 2006 when he released the album "Nzombo Le Soir", which was not promoted as widely his previous albums.

After another four years, he released the album "Pur Encore" in 2010. Besides the fact that the album was not available on CD, this one is also subject to a rather poor sound quality. This strange looseness shows once again that Matumona was having problems managing his career in a direction that can really capitalize on his great talent. However, Defao returned in 2012 with "The Undertaker", followed in 2016 by Any Time, in which he brought together notable musicians from both Congos, including Roga-Roga, Sam Tshintu, Manda Chante and his close friend and longtime collaborator, Godessy Lofombo.

Defao was based in Kenya starting from 2001. In August 2019, he returned triumphantly to Kinshasa and regrouped Big Stars with some of his former musicians including Montana Kamenga and Azanga. With them, he recorded his last album "Bety Poni".

While touring West Africa, Defao died on 27 December 2021 from COVID-19.

A few days later, the Congolese Minister of Culture and Arts agreed with his family to bring his body to Kinshasa for the funeral service to take place there. His last album "Bety Poni" was released on the day of his death.

Personal life

Defao has been in several romantic relationships, but never married. At the time of his death, he left no widows or children.

Selected discography

Defao's complete discography is unknown, as many of his albums were not sold internationally. Here is a selection of his most notable albums.

• Defao de Choc Stars (often referred as Chagrin Dimone, 1988)
• Defao et son groupe (often referred as Hitachi, 1989)
• La Saga de Defao (collaboration with Pepe Kalle, Carlyto Lassa, Luciana Demingongo and Koffi Olomide, 1989)
• Solange Muana Nsuka (1992)
• Amour Scolaire (1992)
• Donat (1994)
• Famille Kikuta (1994)
• Dernier Album 95 (1995)
• Sala Noki (1997)
• Copinage (collaboration with Mbilia Bel, 1998)
• Tremblement De Terre (1999)
• Nessy De London (2000)

References

External links

• Defao discography at Discogs

During his career, Tabu Ley composed up to 3,000 songs and produced 250 albums. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him at number 178 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Biography

Early career

Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu was born in Bagata, in the then Belgian Congo. His musical career took off in 1956 when he sang with Joseph "Le Grand Kallé" Kabasele, and his band L'African Jazz. After finishing high school he joined the band as a full-time musician. Tabu Ley sang in the pan-African hit Indépendance Cha Cha which was composed by Grand Kallé for Congolese independence from Belgium in 1960, propelling Tabu Ley to instant fame. He remained with African Jazz until 1963 when he and Dr Nico Kasanda formed their own group, African Fiesta. Two years later, Tabu Ley and Dr. Nico split and Tabu Ley formed African Fiesta National, also known as African Fiesta Flash. The group became one of the most successful bands in African history, recording African classics like Afrika Mokili Mobimba, and surpassing record sales of one million copies by 1970. Papa Wemba and Sam Mangwana were among the many influential musicians that were part of the group. He adopted the stage name "Rochereau" after the French General Pierre Denfert-Rochereau, whose name he liked and whom he had studied in school.

Later career and exile

In 1970, Tabu Ley formed Orchestre Afrisa International, Afrisa being a combination of Africa and Éditions Isa, his record label. Along with Franco Luambo's TPOK Jazz, Afrisa was now one of Africa's greatest bands. They recorded hits such as "Sorozo", "Kaful Mayay", "Aon Aon", and "Mose Konzo". They performed also at the Zaire 74 and therefore are in the documentary film Soul Power.

In the mid 1980s Tabu Ley discovered a young talented singer and dancer, M'bilia Bel, who helped popularise his band further. M'bilia Bel became the first female soukous singer to gain acclaim throughout Africa. Tabu Ley and M'bilia Bel later married and had a daughter named Melody Tabu together. In 1988 Tabu Ley introduced another female vocalist known as Faya Tess, and M'bilia Bel left and continued to be successful on her own. After M'bilia Bel's departure, Afrisa's influence along with that of their rivals TPOK Jazz continued to wane as fans gravitated toward the faster version of soukous.

After the establishment of Mobutu Sese Seko regime in the Congo, he adopted the name "Tabu Ley" as part of Mobutu's "Zairization" of the country, but later went into exile in France in 1988. In 1985, the Government of the DRC banned all foreign music from the National Radio service. After Tabu Ley composed the song "Twende Nairobi" ("Let's go to Nairobi"), sung by M'bilia Bel, in praise of Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi, the ban was promptly lifted. In the early 1990s he briefly settled in Southern California where he attended Moorpark College. He began to tailor his music towards an International audience by including more English lyrics and by increasing more international dance styles such as Samba. He found success with the release of albums such as Muzina, Exil Ley, Africa worldwide, Babeti soukous, and Man from Kinshasa. The Mobutu regime banned his 1990 album "Trop, C'est Trop" as subversive. In 1996, Tabu Ley participated in the album Gombo Salsa by the salsa music project Africando. The song "Paquita" from that album is a remake of a song that he recorded in the late 1960s with African Fiesta.

Return from exile and death

When Mobutu was deposed in 1997, Tabu Ley returned to Kinshasa and took up a position as a cabinet minister in the government of new President Laurent Kabila. Following Kabila's death, Tabu Ley then joined the appointed transitional parliament created by Joseph Kabila, until it was dissolved following the establishment of the inclusive transitional institutions. In November 2005 Tabu Ley was appointed Vice-Governor of Kinshasa, a position devolved to his party, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) by the 2002 peace agreements. He also served as provincial minister of culture. In 2008, he was said to have fathered up to 102 children, including the French rapper Youssoupha and singer, composer Pegguy Tabu with different women.

Tabu Ley Rochereau died on 30 November 2013, aged 73, at Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels, Belgium where he had been undergoing treatment for a stroke he suffered in 2008. He was buried on 9 December 2013 in the Cimetière Acropolic de la N'sele in Kinshasa, after receiving an official mourning ceremony at the Palais du Peuple.

Discography

• Babeti Soukous (1989)
• Man from Kinshasa (1991)

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide to Congo Gold (2008, World Music Network)

Awards

• Honorary Knight of Senegal
• Officer of the National Order, the Republic of Chad

References

Further reading

• Gary Stewart (2000). Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos. Verso. ISBN 978-1859843680.
• Tabu Ley at kenyapage.net
• Rumba on the River
• MusicWeb Encyclopaedia of Popular Music
• Discography at mp3.com
• Tabu Ley biography and discography at World Music Central

External links

• Tabu Ley Rochereau discography at Discogs
• Tabu Ley Rochereau at IMDb

Jean de Dieu Makiese (28 May 1952 - 11 August 2007), popularly known as Madilu System, was a Congolese rumba singer and songwriter, born in what was then Léopoldville, Belgian Congo. He was once a member of the seminal band TPOK Jazz which dominated the Congolese scene from 1960s through 1980s.

Music career

Beginning as a teenager in 1969, Madilu sang with a series of bands: "Orchestre Symba", "Orchestre Bamboula", headed by Papa Noel, "Festival des Maquisards", led by Sam Mangwana, and Fiesta Popular. In 1973, under the new name Bialu thanks to President Mobutu's "authenticité" campaign, he formed the band Bakuba Mayopi which had a hit in 1976 with the song "Pamba-Pamba," after which he left to form a new group called Orchestre Pamba-Pamba.

However, it was not until Madilu teamed up with Franco, joining his TPOK Jazz in April 1980, that he became a Congolese and International star. He was described as the band's "brightest vocal talent" during its 1980s heyday. Franco is the one who nicknamed him Madilu System, a name that stuck. Madilu's first hit with TPOK Jazz was "Mamou (Tu Vois)," which became a hit in 1984. He sang in a duet with Franco on the band's biggest hit, "Mario."

In the 1990s, following the collapse of TPOK Jazz a few years after the death of its leader Franco in 1989, Madilu began his solo career by issuing an album called Sans Commentaire.

At the beginning of August 2007, Madilu traveled to Kinshasa to shoot videos for his new songs. He collapsed on Friday, 10 August 2007. He was taken to the University Hospital in Kinshasa, where he died the next morning, Saturday 11 August 2007. His last album, La Bonne Humeur, was released posthumously.

Discography

• Sans Commentaire (1993)
• Album '95 (1995)
• L'eau (1999)
• Pouvoir (2000)
• Tenant du Titre (2003)
• Bonheur (2004)
• La Bonne Humeur (2007)

See also

• Franco Luambo Makiadi
• Sam Mangwana
• Josky Kiambukuta
• TPOK Jazz

References

External links

• Madilu System Biography and Discography