Twist à Léo with Manu!
https://amf.didiermary.fr/twist-leopoldville-with-manu/
The year 1960 found Dibango playing the Anges Noirs in Brussels where he met Congolese singer Joseph Kabasele and his African Jazz. Dibango made his first recordings with African Jazz the following year, then joined the band in Congo-Kinshasa for a re-introduction to Africa that would encompass two years, gigs with African Jazz, and jobs […]
Joyeuses Fêtes ! Happy Holidays!
Bonane na Noel!
Avec le Seigneur Tabu Ley Rochereau !
https://www.didiermary.fr/bonane-na-noel-bonnes-fetes-happy-holidays/
Maurice Poto Doudongo – The Lost Album
https://amf.didiermary.fr/maurice-poto-doudongo-the-lost-album/
During the 80s in Brussels, a Congolese musician, Maurice Poto Doudongo, starts musical experimentations, after working with Zaïko Langa Langa in Kinshasa.
Poto Doudongo is in his 20s, works with Zazou Bikaye, and decides to record a solo album, where he plays all instruments. The result is a mix of [...]
Petelo Vicka et son Nzazi – Sungu Lubuka
https://amf.didiermary.fr/petelo-vicka-et-son-nzazi-sungu-lubuka/
En septembre 1974, le festival “Zaïre 74” avait fait monter la pression sur toute une génération de musiciens locaux, en les poussant à injecter une bonne dose de Funk dans la Rumba congolaise.
Dans la compilation Congo Funk!, on retrouve des groupes de Kinshasa et Brazzaville, tels que l’Orchestre OK Jazz et Les Bantous de [...]
#70smusic #80smusic #AfroFunk #Congo #Rumba #OldAfricanMusic
Celine Banza – For You (acoustic version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8hZpp24C_0
Bibi Den’s – “The Best Ambiance”
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bibi-den-tshibayi-best-ambiance-kinshasa-abidjan-1982/
Kinshasa meets Abidjan in 1982, with Bibi Den’s Tshibayi and “The Best Ambiance”, released as a 12” single in the UK in 1984.
Bibi Denis Tshibayi was born in Luebo, in the Kasai Occidental province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre). He composed his first song at the age of 14, “Moninga Alingi […]
Kanda Bongo Man – Malinga
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kanda-bongo-man-malinga/
Bongo Kanda (born 1 January 1955), aka Kanda Bongo Man, is a Congolese Soukous musician and singer. His career debuted in 1973 when he became the singer for the Belle Mambo band, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley.
His solo career only started to take off after he moved to Paris in 1979, where his […]
Zazou Bikaye – Nostalgie
https://amf.didiermary.fr/zazou-bikaye-nostalgie/
The track “Nostalgie” is from “Mr Manager” by Zazou Bikaye, reissued in 2020 in an expanded version.
Following the acclaimed 2017 vinyl reissue of the Noir et Blanc album, here’s a special edition of Zazou Bikaye’s second record, Mr. Manager, which only ever came out on vinyl, in 1985. This edition comprises nine additional tracks, […]
Tshala Muana – Malu
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rip-tshala-muana/
Tshala Muana, la célèbre artiste originaire de la province du Kasaï occidental en RDC, aussi nommée “Mamu Nationale“ ou “La reine du Mutuashi“, est décédée en décembre 2022 à Kinshasa. Les fans pleurent toujours sur les réseaux sociaux.
Contrairement à la plupart des zaïrois qui chantent en Lingala et jouent la Rumba (ou […]
Lokassa Ya M'bongo - Bonne Année
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7DnV6N4Vkg
Zaïko Langa Langa - MBROUSS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN3s5Ru4QVc
50 years in the music industry! More than a band, a real school where talents were nurtured for years.
KOKOKO!
https://amf.didiermary.fr/azo-toke-kokoko/
KOKOKO! is an offshoot of Fulu Miziki Kolektiv, with French producer Débruit. Electronic music direct from Congo, mixing standard instruments with homemade ones.
Le Grand Kalle
https://amf.didiermary.fr/le-grand-kalle/
Le Grand Kalle: His Life His Music was a 2013 compilation (2-CD plus 104-page book) that brought together for the first time the breadth of Kalle’s recording career spanning over 3 decades including tracks taken from shellac and vinyl that had been unavailable for many years. In the turbulent and euphoric times that surrounded Congo’s […]
Franco, King of Rumba
https://amf.didiermary.fr/franco-king-of-rumba/
François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (6 July 1938 – 12 October 1989) was a Congolese singer, guitarist, songwriter, bandleader, and cultural revolutionary, the King of Rumba.
#Compilation #Congo #Documentary #FrancoLuambo #OldAfricanMusic
Pierre Kwenders – The Last Bantu Emperor
https://amf.didiermary.fr/pierre-kwenders-last-bantu-emperor-teaser/
Pierre Kwenders blends genres, cultures, and languages in his indie-Afro electro sound, merging Congolese rumba, pop, and electronica while singing in Lingala, French, English, Tshiluba, and Kikongo. His first album “Le Dernier Empereur Bantou” (the Last Bantu Emperor) was released in 2014.
Listen to this Congolese music in Cajun style with Mardi Gras featuring Jacobus
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has grown to nearly 500 suspected cases and 116 deaths, and the World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern. @NBCNews has more on how the virus spreads and the risk of a larger outbreak.
Masanka Sankayi – Il ne faut pas intervenir
https://amf.didiermary.fr/masanka-sankayi-faut-pas-intervenir/
This short video shows members of the band that would later be known as Kasai Allstars. What would become CongoPunk! Masanka Sankayi was a Congolese band, the result from fusion of Masanka and Orchestre Sankaï.
Bernard Lavilliers & Nzongo Soul – Noir et Blanc
https://amf.didiermary.fr/bernard-lavilliers-nzongo-soul-noir-blanc/
RIP Nzongo Soul et la “musicosophie”… Prix Découvertes RFI 1984, il est décédé en janvier 2018.
Le titre qui l’a fait connaitre en France est sa collaboration avec Bernard Lavilliers dans “Noir et Blanc,” sur l’album “Voleur de Feu” en 1987. Ce duo est une chanson politique au sujet de Nelson Mandela et d’un brésilien […]
Les Mamans du Congo – Ya Mizolé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/les-mamans-du-congo-ya-mizole/
After their first album, which received a standing ovation from the press and public in 2020, followed by their EP Kikento, released in the spring of 2023, Les Mamans du Congo & Rrobin are making a comeback with their new album Ya Mizolé! With the first single Mpemba (“reason” in Lari), Les Mamans du Congo […]
Zaïre 74 – the African Artists
https://amf.didiermary.fr/zaire-74-african-artists/
A côté des stars américaines qui ont fait le show à Zaire 74, il y avait aussi de nombreux groupes et artistes africains, dont congolais pour ce grand festival, aussi connu sous le nom “Soul Power” d’après le documentaire diffusé en 2009.
“Ali, boma ye” (en français : “Ali, tue le”)
Pour mémoire, ce grand festival […]
Tamfoum Ibrahim & Amabano Band – Salam
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tamfoum-ibrahim-amabano-band-salam/
Ibrahim Tam Fum Kayenge Dembo (Fidel) is a guitarist born in Kinshasa who played in many bands. Here in a video shot in the Netherlands with Amabano Band.
Franco & OK Jazz – Course au pouvoir (1966)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/franco-ok-jazz-course-au-pouvoir-1966/
La chanson “Course au pouvoir” (comme “Chicotte” également) est le reflet d’une époque où les artistes, orchestres et musiciens se lançaient dans des “revanches en musique.”
Ici, Franco répond à Kwamy Munsi, qui après avoir quitté OK Jazz, pour rejoindre African Fiesta, lui a adressé le titre “Faux millionnaire” accompagné de [...]
Dr Nico Kasanda – Bougie Ya Motema
https://amf.didiermary.fr/docteur-nico-kasanda-bougie-ya-motema/
Orchestre African Fiesta & Dr. Nico Kasanda – Bougie Ya Motema / Runeme Mama – “Surboum Africaine” 7″ in 1967.
Verckys – catalogue Éditions Vévé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/verckys-catalogue-editions-veve/
James Brown dubbed Verckys “Mister Dynamite” after seeing him perform in Kinshasa in 1974.
In 2015, Sterns Music released the most comprehensive digital reissue of Editions Vévé catalogue : 10 singles featuring their original covers, 15 albums with original covers and sequence, 6 compilation albums including rare tracks. In addition to being a talented [...]
