Ray Lema – Marabout (Lyolela)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ray-lema-marabout-iyolela/
The song “Marabout” is from the album “Medecine” in 1984. This track is referenced as having two drummers: Boffi Banengola and Tony Allen.
Edited 93d ago
congo
The Docteur Is In
The Congolese rumba pioneer Docteur Nico helped define the sound of African decolonization—and became one of the great visionaries of the electric guitar.
https://www.nybooks.com/online/2026/03/11/the-docteur-is-in-nico-congolese-rumba/
African Jazz & Grand Kalle – Parafifi (1957)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/african-jazz-grand-kalle-parafifi-1957/
Enregistrée dès 1953, en 78T, la chanson “Parafifi” a beaucoup évolué au fil du temps et de la composition des orchestres qui accompagnent alors l’artiste Joseph Kabasele alias Kallé.
Quelle est la signification du titre ?
C’est tout simplement la contraction de deux prénoms en dédicace à Paraiso (Para), béninois et ami de Kallé, et […]
Edited 185d ago
Les Belgicains
https://amf.didiermary.fr/les-belgicains/
The compilation “Les Belgicains – Na Tango Ya Covadia 1964-1970” (‘Les Belgicains’ during the time of Covadia 1964-1970) tells the remarkable story of the first Congolese student orchestras in Belgium.
During that time Congolese referred to countrymen living in Belgium as ‘Les Belgicains’. The music presented on this compilation blew a new, fresh wind through […]
Edited 177d ago
Johnny Bokelo & Conga Succès – Tambola na Mokili
https://amf.didiermary.fr/johnny-bokelo-conga-succes-tambola-na-mokili/
Johnny Bokelo, born Jean Bokelo Isenge in the (late) 1930s in then Belgian Congo, moved to Leopoldville in 1958 where he founded multiple orchestras, first with his elder brothers (Alberto Bosaba, Lokonda Mpoku aka Ondo-Ondo, Paul Ebengo Isenge aka Dewayon), then as a guitarist, composer and bandleader. After a long career in Rumba [...]
Edited 175d ago
James Brown in Kinshasa (1974)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/james-brown-kinshasa-1974/
James Brown in Kinshasa? Yes, in 1974!
James Brown, the Godfather on the stage for the “Soul Power” concert in Kinshasa in ’74 in a large extract from the documentary released as DVD in 2008. […]
Edited 36d ago
Trio Madjesi & Orchestre Sosoliso
https://amf.didiermary.fr/trio-madjesi-orchestre-sosoliso/
Trio Madjesi & Orchestre Sosoliso was one of the hottest acts in then Zaire in the early 1970s. The name Madjesi comes from the first letters of the names of the singers Mario Matadidi Mabele, Loko Massengo “Djeskain” and Sak “Sinatra” Sakoul. They made a joyful mix of Zairean music and soul music in the […]
Edited 172d ago
Baloji Feat. Konono N°1 – Karibu Ya Bintou
https://amf.didiermary.fr/baloji-konono-n1-karibu-ya-bintou/
“Karibu Ya Bintou” comes from Baloji‘s album “Kinshasa Succursale.“
Video shot in the streets of Kinshasa.
Electric thumb piano (aka likembé) played by Konono N°1, the legendary Congolese band whose junkyard sonics and trademark “Congotronics” sound has had a major influence on the electronic and indie rock scenes.
Edited 169d ago
Short documentary on Kasai Allstars
https://amf.didiermary.fr/short-documentary-kasai-allstars/
Kasai Allstars, known from the Congotronics albums, before they were famous, in a short documentary… This is electrified traditional rhythms and music, with a Punk twist… More…
Edited 163d ago
Discover Fredy Massamba
https://amf.didiermary.fr/discover-fredy-massamba/
Discover Fredy Massamba: Born in Congo (Pointe Noire), part of Les Tambours de Brazza for a few years, now touring around the world with a blend of Soul, Funk, Hip Hop and traditional chants. Here on stage in France in 2007.
Edited 163d ago
Kiniata – Kin’Gongolo Kiniata
https://amf.didiermary.fr/liseki-te-kin-gongolo-kiniata/
Kiniata is the first studio album released by Kin’Gongolo Kiniata in April 2025.
The story of a young man who sincerely opens his heart to a woman he deeply loves. In the face of her doubts, as she demands proof of his affection, he has only his truthful words to convince her. He fervently declares […]
Edited 31d ago
Staff Benda Bilili – le retour inachevé
https://amf.didiermary.fr/staff-benda-bilili-le-retour/
Voilà un groupe à qui j’ai consacré beaucoup de temps et d’énergie sur le blog KoToNTeeJ il y a une quinzaine d’années… et je pensais qu’il avait définitivement sombré, après un début de carrière fulgurant, puis une descente dans l’oubli, la scission des membres etc.[…]
Edited 90d ago
Mbongwana Star – From Kinshasa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/mbongwana-star-kinshasa/
Following the split of Staff Benda Bilili in December 2012, the core of the group created “Staff Mbongwana International,” later renamed “Mbongwana Star.”
If you remember the news last year, the original band split, after some “problems” between their new “management” and the booking agency that took care of their tours since the [...]
Edited 90d ago
Miriam Makeba Zaire 74
https://amf.didiermary.fr/miriam-makeba-zaire-74/
Yes, she was part of the event, performing the famous Click Song (Qongqothwane). [...]
#70smusic #Congo #LiveMusic #MiriamMakeba #SoulPower #SouthAfrica #OldAfricanMusic
Edited 155d ago
Passy Mermans – C’est Sérieux Tantine
https://amf.didiermary.fr/passy-mermans-serieux-tantine/
Alphonse Mpassy, aka Passy Mermans, was a guitarist from Brazzaville’s legendary Orchestre Bantous. The song is a love letter to his fiancee, while he is far away in Alger for a concert.
Edited 87d ago
Jacques Loubelo – Congo (Hymne à la Paix)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/jacques-loubelo-congo-hymne-paix/
Reknown folk singer from Congo-Brazzaville, Jacques Loubélo was a songwriter, guitarist, and performer. In 1965, he founded the vocal group “Les Cheveux Crépus,” which enjoyed considerable national success. He later begins to perform his own compositions in Lari (his native language), Kikongo and Lingala.
Jacques Loubélo remains a major figure on the Congolese music scene [...]
Edited 154d ago
Fredy Massamba – Ethnophony
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fredy-massamba-ethnophony/
Né à Pointe-Noire au Congo, Fredy Massamba rejoint les Tambours de Brazza, puis accompagne Zap Mama, Didier Awadi, Manou Gallo et pas mal d’autres.
Il décide finalement de sortir un album solo en 2011, Ethnophony, travaillé avec Ray Lema et mixé à New York par les ingénieurs du son d’Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys ou The […]
Edited 78d ago
OK Jazz – Tcha Tcha Tcha de Mi Amor
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ok-jazz-tcha-tcha-tcha-de-mi-amor/
This song “Tcha Tcha Tcha de Mi Amor” appears on Congo Revolution – Revolutionary and Evolutionary Sounds from the Two Congos 1955-62 – a compilation that explores the Congolese rumba explosion.
“A look at the explosion of music that came out of the Congo in the years leading up to independence in 1960. Congolese rumba, a […]
Edited 77d ago
Grand Kallé & African Jazz – Satchmo Okuka Lokole
https://amf.didiermary.fr/grand-kalle-african-jazz-satchmo-okuka-lokole/
When Louis Armstrong visited Congo on October 28, 1960 and arrived in Leopoldville to perform with his All Stars, booked by the State Department and sponsored by Pepsi Co, Joseph Kabasele (Grand Kallé) followed the tradition: he had a song ready for Satchmo…
Louis Armstrong was sent […]
Edited 77d ago
Finally took the time (my internet connection was down...) to watch Johan Grimonprez' documentary "Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat".
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14452174/
If you're interested in #Africa #History #UN #Jazz it's really worth your time.
If you want to better understand what happened when #Congo "tried" #Independence from #Belgium in 1960, how USA conspired to kill #PatriceLumumba and why there was a war in #Katanga, then there's a lot in this documentary, while listening to good music.
Edited 1y ago
Zazou Bikaye + Cy1 – Noir et Blanc
https://amf.didiermary.fr/noir-et-blanc-zazou-bikaye-cy1-1983/
“In the early ‘80s, Zazou released Noir et Blanc (Black and White) and despite its chaotic development and the fact that he didn’t play a single note, it was among his finest achievements. Everything stemmed from Zazou’s introduction of CY1 (two Frenchmen adept with electronics, Claude Micheli and Guillaume Loizillon) to Congolese singer Bony Bikaye. […]
Edited 149d ago
Swede Lokole – Bana Swede
https://amf.didiermary.fr/swede-lokole-bana-swede/
Festive, mainly acoustic, music from Congolese artists who lived in Côte d’Ivoire, as there was a civil war in their country. The cassettes, and later records, released by Swede Lokole were in fact a way for the band to show what they could offer on stage as a live band.
They trained themselves where they […]
Edited 148d ago
Petite Noir — La Vie Est Belle / Life Is Beautiful
https://amf.didiermary.fr/petite-noir-vie-belle-life-beautiful-baloji/
Two collaborations in 2015 between Petite Noir (Yannick Diekeno Ilunga, a South African raised, Belgian born, Congolese singer & songwriter) and Baloji: “La Vie Est Belle / Life Is Beautiful” + “Capture” where both feature on each other songs. […]
Edited 17d ago
Seigneur Tabu Ley Rochereau – Haffi Deo
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tabu-ley-rochereau-orchestre-afrisa-haffi-deo/
The title track of Tabu Ley‘s 1985 album “Haffi deo” is a daring crossover to a smoother boogie funk sound. Scattered among his discography which spans over 100 albums, there are a few tunes that sound quite different from the usual rumba. On the flip [side of the Bandcamp release below] is a previously unknown […]
Edited 75d ago
Tambours de Brazza – Sur la Route des Caravanes
https://amf.didiermary.fr/tambours-brazza-route-caravanes/
From album “Sur la Route des Caravanes” by Les Tambours de Brazza in 2013.
The Congolese band created by Emile Biayenda in 1983 is back with a new album – a journey through modern African urban music, carried by the emblematic ngoma drums and bringing into play Congolese guitars and vocals rubbing shoulders with the […]
Edited 25d ago