December 12, 2012

Sopa

On the brink of the festive season (or the end of the world) I think it is time for some seasonal music. And what could be more seasonal than four "rumbas corvées"?

What?

I admit I had never heard of that crazy rhythm called "rumba corvée" before listening to these four songs. And I am still not convinced I have now...
"Corvée" seems to indicate a certain level of exertion, of a type which may be getting more popular in these regions going by the rigorous measures proposed by our respective governments. I.e. unpaid! Do I see the shadows of slave labour and pre-industrial revolution labour conditions looming up through the mist of time?

Luckily these gloomy visions are not reflected in the music. On the contrary, the music is better typified by the name of the orchestra: Festival des Maquisards, where "maquisards" is about rebellion and resistance against oppression by the common people. That's more like it!

And it gets better.
For the star of this orchestra is a young Sam Mangwana, here still presented under the name of Sam Moreno. Co-leader of the group is another ex-member of Rochereau's African Fiesta 66 and a contemporary of Mangwana (also born in 1945): lead guitarist Paul Vangu better known as Guvano.

The first track features Mangwana in splendid form, with vocals clearly based on or inspired by his time alongside Rochereau. As in some of the songs with African Fiesta he demonstrates that he can compete with Rochereau on equal terms (within R's own singing style), while at the same time adding his own magical 'je ne sais quoi'. Sam has always had a 'real' quality in his singing, a quality which he shares with great singers like (for example) Josky Kiambukuta and Celia Cruz. No belcanto, no pretentiousness, very much 'de la rue'.

I'm not sure who is accompanying him in "Ligenda Obosani?", composed by himself. My first guess would be Lokombe (who at the time was called Camille Lokombe, but later became Lokombe Nkalulu), a very talented singer with a career lasting right on to this very day. In fact, if you are very quick you can see him performing with a former colleague from Les Maquisards, Dizzy Mandjeku, and his Odemba OK All Stars (also starring that superb singer Malage de Lugendo!) at the Tropentheater in Amsterdam this Saturday (December 15).
But alternatively it is possible that Diana Nsimba, also ex-African Fiesta, is backing Sam.

There is no doubt whatsoever about the second singer on the B-side. Ntesa Dalienst is very much present in this version of Celia Cruz's "Sopa en Botella". And for those who don't recognise his voice, he's the singer doing the 'chorus' starting at 1'15. This song seems tailormade for Mangwana and Ntesa. Mangwana does the best impression of Celia Cruz I have ever heard, and Ntesa adds a subtle touch of sophistication. A sheer delight!

The second single, while significantly worse for wear when it comes to the physical state of the vinyl, delivers the same high musical standard. The A-side, "Catho Nakozonga", is composed and wonderfully sung by Lokombe, with Sam doing the backing vocals. The flipside is composed by a Gérard, and I am not sure who this is supposed to be. Ntesa once mentioned guitarist Gérard Biyéla, but as far as I know he was with Les Bantous, and I haven't heard his name in connection with Les Maquisards. I am not sure if this is the start of Mangwana's career as a polyglot, but if I am not mistaken this "Tabu Wangu" contains some lines in swahili.

It remains a mystery why these treasures have never been reissued.

Negro Festival NF 3503
Negro Festival NF 3507




10 comments:

  1. Thanks for these rarities.

    As for those Maquisards, it was probably first of all a rebellion by Guvano and Mangwana against their old bosses, Rochereau and Roger Izeidi. But Diana did not take part in this rebellion. He was never a member of Festival des Maquisards. In fact, he joined Rochereau's new Fiesta National.

    The original singers of Festival des Maquisards were Sam, Dalienst and Sam's younger brother, Pascal Yikiladio. The latter, however, was soon replaced by Lokombe who is indeed the second vocalist in Ligenda Obosani?.

    The composer of Tabu Wangu is sax player Gerard Kongi Aska who, I believe, is originally from somewhere north, CAR or Sudan. Anyway, interesting to hear some Swahili in the second part, although grammatically not correct because I think the title should be Taabu Zangu ("My troubles").

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  2. @Peter: Thanks for this very useful addition!!

    Diana did sing with the later Grands Maquisards. He sung (backing vocals) on hits like "Maria Mboka" and "Biki", according to Ntesa Dalienst.

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  3. Correct, Diana was part of the Grands Maquisards.

    As for Festival des Maquisards, the other musicians besides above mentioned singers were:
    Solo guitars: Guvano & Dizzy
    Rhythm guitar: Michelino (who suggested "Festival")
    Bass: Johnny Bokasa (who suggested "Maquisards")
    Saxophones: Gerard Kongi & Jean Marie Makutukala
    Trumpets: Jean "Trompette" Nzenze & Barami
    Tumba: Depuissant.

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  4. Great music, thank you very much!

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  5. Nice post. I love it. I hope to see more. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  6. Didn't want to let Christmas pass witout saying thank you, Stefan, for all the great music and high-quality information you've shared with us this year. Thanks so much for your hard work - it really does touch so many lives with a lot of joy. Thank you & all best for 2013.

    David

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  7. ooooh yes - superb! Have a wonderful new year! ...and so many thanks for sharing your knowledge and music!
    Bernd

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  8. Thanks for this wonderful music, is it ok if I write an article on my blog (in Dutch / English).

    I will mention your fantastic blog :-)

    My blog: http://salsabroso.blogspot.nl/

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