Skip to main content

CONGOLESE RHUMBA MUSICIANS YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF

When we think about Congolese Rhumba we immediately think of established names like Ferre Gola, Fally Ipupa, Koffi Olomide, Canta Nyboma, Madilu System, Franco Makiadi, Niko Kasanada, Tabu Ley, Simaro Lutumba, Bozi Boziana, Awilo Longomba, Mbilia Bell, Faya Tess and Nyoka Longo - to mention but a few. But what if I told you that there are probably thousands other artists you've probably never heard of?
Just like any other successful musical genre, Congolese rumba attracts many artists and musicians. It is almost the glamour division of Congolese music. While some artists have made it big in the genre and their fame travels far and wide, other have had but modest success and remain relatively unknown. This article aims to profile these little known musicians, who surprisingly are not short on talent - and bring them into your world. Because not much information exists on them, I'll just put to you the much I've been able to gather:
1. Letis Madilu - This one really need no introduction. He is the sons of the late Jean De Dieu Bialu Madilu alias Madilu System. He currents leads the band "Bana System" with which they reproduced some of his late father's classics with a modern touch. The band also has an album to its name titled "Au nom du père et du fils: Histoire continue" (In the name of the Father and the Son: The History Continues) released in 2017.
2. Bovic Bandio Akalia - The Lead singer of Bana System Band. He was also part of the Madilu System vocalists group. He can be seen delivering a scintillating verse in Madilu System's track "Kamul Inter". He is the lead singer in the Au nom du père et du fils album in which he puts in stellar performance in songs including "Bolingo ya Thermometre" and Pasi na Motema etcetera.
3. Montana Kamenga - Part of the Koffi Olomide back up vocalist half dozen including Riddens Makosso, Zuzuki 4x4, Mamale Fiston Tupac, Anelka Fally Ipupa and Gibson Butukundolo in the Quatier Latin Band, he has since left  to pursue a solo career and recorded songs like Deluge, bebe bouchue etc. He is a great singer blessed with a natural tenor voice. He contributed a stand-out verse in Fally Ipupa's song Associe.
4. Dindo Yogo - Dindo Yogo was part of the back singers at Quarteir Latin where he composed songs like Pragmatisma . He has recorded some nice songs, cameos and collaborations including Mokili echanger, Lola Muana, Makamu Yaka and Clara.
5. Gibson Butukondolo - He was also one of the vocalists at Koffi Olomide's Quartier Latin Band where he composed the song Mopetre Lendila. As a solo artist he has composed and sung songs like Diagnostic, Nzoto and Gethsemane.

*Watch out for part 2 of this piece coming up in our next article.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

20 LINGALA WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW THEIR MEANINGS

Over the last couple of years the Lingala language has gained and continues to gain unprecedented popularity in Kenya . Many Kenyans now can speak fluent Lingala. Some even sing in the langauge! I'm talking about Papa Fololo, Igwe Prezda Bandasson, Awilo Mike of Jamnazi Africa, Fofona Bangali and myself, just to name but a few. Part of the reason for this popularity is: Lingala is easy to learn (For Lingala-Swahili similarities, click here ). I mean, it is ridiculously easy. So easy, in fact, it takes just a few months. Forget about the Lingala you hear in songs that's bedeviled with iterations of Lingalized French (Hahah, what does that even mean?). I'm talking about Lingala in its purest form here, the one not polluted with foreign languages. Well, before I bore you to death with detail, I'm happy to present you here with 20 popular lingala words and phrases I thought you could be interested in knowing their meaning. Let's get right into it, shall we? 1. Bolingo...
86 comments
Read more

TOP 5 LUO BENGA SONGS AND MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME

Luo benga is a crowded scene. It is a boiling pot teeming with hundreds of artistes, both dead and alive, young and old, males and females jostling for space in this very competitive music world.We have legends like the late George Ramogi, the late Owino Missiani (also known as DO Missiani), The late Okatch Biggy, the late Prince July, the late Prince Kassam, the late Omondi Tony, the late Kollela Maze, The late Kodiyo, to sample but a few. We also have an emerging crop of young talents like Dolla Kabarry, George Dume, Otieno Small, Kamaliza Majengo, Aluoch Jamaranda, Reggie Kabaselle  (son of the late Ochieng Kabaselleh ), Aluoch Jipanoran, Ogina KoKo, Omondi Longlilo, Jerry Jalamo Ka'John  and Osito Kalle to mention but a few. We cannot all agree who is the best and I am not going to impose my choices on you. But we can agree that from the long list of Benga artists in Luoland a few names stand out and a few songs stand out from the bunch like giraffe in heard of gazelles (...
16 comments
Read more

5 POPULAR LINGALA PHRASES EVERY RUMBA LOVER MUST KNOW

Lingala is probably the fastest growing indigenous African language largely due to Congolese music (Rumba, soukous, chatchto and the like). Some of the greatest composers and singers in Africa have sung in this language producing some renown hit songs that have dominated the African airwaves for decades while introducing some endearing phrases and catchphrases that never just never fade from our collective memory. Lingala is reputed as Africa's most romantic language and it has surely lived up to this reputation. Lingala phrases are a pure joy to listen to, especially when you understand them. Some of these phrases are priceless pieces of wisdom while some overflow with sardonic humor and wit. But one thing is for sure, these phrases are simply unforgettable, for one reason or another. Maybe it's because we tend to be fascinated with exotic languages and ideas. Or maybe, the Congolese people are just damn good at composing music. Either way, their singing, their music and mann...
4 comments
Read more