Liyanzi

He had to go on television and explain the song in Benin, Ivory Coast, Togo and Cameroon. They were invited to the US because of this song. Wherever the T.P. O.K. Jazz went Ntesa Dalienst was asked about "Munsi".

But "Munsi" may be the title by which most people know the song, it is not the original title. The song was released in 1980 as "Liyanzi Ekoti Ngai Na Motema". As Ntesa explained in this interview in 1990, the liyanzi of the title is a nasty insect that can burrow into your toe to lay its eggs, causing a very nasty disease called tungiasis (or tungosis). In the song it is not an insect which has infected a man, but the love for a woman. It is causing him pain, and can't be removed by a doctor. Only when the woman will return his love the pain will go away. But the woman doesn't want him because he is married. The man retorts by pointing out that the woman's father too was polygamous. The woman's name, "Munsi", was invented by Ntesa to hide the true identity of the lady, and consists of the first letters of her surname combined with the first of her first name.

The song was first released on the lp "A Paris Volume 1". In this version Franco is not playing. In fact, Franco hardly ever played on the songs composed by Ntesa Dalienst. There are of course exceptions. Like this version recorded in 1980 during a concert in Abidjan.

Ntesa Dalienst & TP OK Jazz - Liyanzi Ekoti Ngai Na Motema
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And, while we're at it, here's a second version. This time recorded in Zaïre, by Telezaïre, and probably also in 1980. This time Thierry Mantuika replaces Franco, - as he does in the version on the lp.


From the same year, but this time at the home base of the T.P. O.K. Jazz, the "1-2-3" Club, here is a third version. Again with Thierry Mantuika.


Originally released on the same lp, "A Paris Volume 1", here is a song composed and performed by singer Ndombe Opetum, called "Youyou". Supporting Ndombe are Wuta Mayi, Lukoki Diatho and Ntesa Dalienst.

There is also a version recorded in Abidjan , which can be found here.

Also on "A Paris Volume 1", but also on video, is the song "Kadima", composed by Lutumba Simaro and sung by one of Simaro's favourite singers, Djo Mpoyi. During this concert at "1-2-3" he has difficulty not to succumb to the (material) praise that is bestowed on him.
Note that both Franco and Simaro are playing in this song.


Unfortunately I have never seen a video of the remaining track of "A Paris Volume 1": "Na Komipesa Na Nani?", composed and sung by Franco himself. This is even more unfortunate, because it is my favourite track of the album. The track was previously released as "Mobali Aboyi Na Ye Kaka" on African (Nigeria) 360.129 in 1979 (and later in digital form on Sonodisc CDS 6862).

The rather exaggerated stereo separation on these tracks suggests that "Youyou" and "Na Komipesa Na Nani?" are from the same recording session, and recorded a year earlier than "Liyanzi Ekoti Ngai Na Motema".

VISA 1980 FRAN 003