Sunday, November 17, 2019

JAPANESE - CONGOLESE CONNECTION




Over the years as I have been (re)discovering Congolese music, I have noticed a cultural connection between Congo and Japan. Years ago when my younger brother was taking martial arts classes he had to learn a whole list of Japanese words and the numbers. My mother (RIP) looking at the list remarked how the Japanese language reminded her a lot of Lingala and how many Congolese names sound Japanese and vice versa. Ever since that conversation I noticed the same but I still didn't know the extent to which that similarities


Before that when I was a kid one of the many records played in our house was Zaiko Langa Langa's Nippon Banzai au Japon album. It never really occured to me until years later that Zaiko Langa Langa was a huge success internationally and had a fanbase in Japan and that Congolese music in general is embraced there.

Since seeing the album cover for Zaiko Langa Langa's Nippon Banzai au Japon I've been curious to find out how popular Congolese music is in Japan. When I heard "Elo" for the first time and realized that a stanza was sung in Japanese my curiosity grew even more. The Japanese influence and love is shown even in the opening theme song of Tambour d'Afrique 'Bakwetu'


My curiosity was satisfied to a degree when I stumbled upon the album 'Bana Kinshasa Bana Japon' by the band Orchestre Yoka Choc du Japon online @ ylow.blogspot.com.
If anyone has any information on this band please feel free to leave comments.
I downloaded their album from ylow.blogspot.com (a wonderful collection of world and african music over there. please give them a visit).


Nalali Mpongi

Last week Guy was on vacation so there was a repeat of the Miriam Makeba episode of Tambour d'Afrique. While Guy was away he was able to get his hands on a whole lot of music he has been looking for for a long time. One of those songs is Zaiko Langa Langa's Nalali Mpongi. This Nyoka Longo composition has easily become one of my favorite songs. Aside from the actual
music being superb the lyrics to this song are outstanding. My father tells me Nyoka Longo wrote the song for his older sister who was like a mother for him. The song, from what I understand, is about the journey he took from the spirit world to life. Nalali Mpongi means I sleep, tired.

Sunday, February 3, 2019

FUKICHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR DISASTER IN JAPAN Our Hearts Go Out To Japan...as reported by Ms. Bazu March 2011

Disaster in Japan I have been wanting to do an entry regarding the connection between the Congo and Japan as far as there being many fans of Congolese music in Japan and the Congolese
having their own fascination with Japan. It makes me sad to say that a tragedy like
the 8.9 earthquake, the tsunami that followed AND the threat of nuclear meltdown (!!!) in and around the Tokyo area is what reminded me of my idea for that post.

About 5 years ago I noticed the connection in the Zaiko Langa Langa song "Elo". In the classic song the vocalists sing a few lines in what I *assume* is in Japanese (I've never confirmed what the lyrics in mean). Now when I first started putting those location maps on this site I noticed right away that we had several hits from Japan. "Elo" to this day is the most downloaded song on this website with several hits and I always wondered (and still do) how big of a hit this song might have been in Japan.

Before THAT there was the Nippon Banzai album that I grew up listening to. It never occurred to me until years later that the album was an actual recording of a live show in Japan. All of this leads me to believe that Congolese music has had a following in Japan for a while (much in the same way that Pop, Dancehall and Hip Hop have niche followings within the Japanese population).

I was extremely pleased to find that my hypothesis was right.
If anyone has any information on this band please feel free to leave comments.
I downloaded their album from ylow.blogspot.com (a wonderful collection of world and african music over there. please give them a visit).

Zaiko Langa Langa sings Muvaro in 1986.



Saturday, February 2, 2019

ZAIKO LANGA LANGA IN THE U.S.A. 2018-2019 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR (USA AND CANADA). LA TOURNEE DU ZAIKO LANGA LANGA EN AMERIQUE DU NORD (ETATS UNIS ET CANADA) NOUVELLE FORMULE VIMBA

ZAIKO LANGA LANGAIN THE USA WITH PRESIDENT JOSSART NYOKA LONGO










https://www.facebook.com/guy.angrand1/videos/10155946424357711/





https://www.facebook.com/jehrsyjossart.nyokalongo/videos/2023497737710789/











https://www.facebook.com/guy.angrand1/videos/10156069060622711/

TRIBUTE TO STACEY BAZU ANGRAND AKA SHA AKA MWANA NSALU A ROYAL LEGACY EXPERIENCE MAY 29 1982 TO DECEMBER 4 2017. HOMMAGE A MA FILLE STACEY BAZU ANGRAND CONNUE AUSSI SOUS LE NOM DE SHA ET MWANA NSALU 4 29 MAI 1982 AU 17 DECEMBRE 2017.

THE PALMARES OF CONGOLESE RUMBA AND THE TAMBOUR D'AFRIQUE BLOG IS BACK, MUSIC IS BACK AFTER 2 YEARS OF NO NEW POSTING, THE CRASH AND BANKRUPTCY OF DIVISHARE.COM, MS. BAZU (STACEY BAZU ANGRAND KNOWN AS SHAMECCA AND LATER SHA) HAD AN INSIDIOUS AND INSURMONTABLE DISEASE THAT SENT HER ON HER ETERNAL JOURNEY. THE PAST 2 YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY BUT PARTICULARLY HER SON, KARAMO. EVERYTHING WE DO FOR THE RADIO TRIOMPHE SHOW, THE PALMARES OF CONGOLESE RUMBA, WAS CONNECTED TO STACEY. SHE WAS THE RESEARCHER, SHE ESTABLISHED THE BLOG AND PROVIDED ME WITH COUNTLESS NEW SONGS AND ARTISTS THAT FEATURE ON MY RADIO SHOW. EVERY TIME I PLAY KING KESTER EMENEYA, DINDO YOGO AND LOLA MWANA, YOULOU MABIALA'S TANTINE OR ZAIKO'S MASHAKADO, FALLY IPUPA I REMEMBER HER LOVE OF MUSIC, HER FAMILY AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL. REST IN PEACE STACEY I LOVE AND WE WILL CONTINUE IN THE ROYAL LEGACY TRADITION THE ROAD YOU HAVE STARTED ON TILL THAT TIME. I LOVE YOU FOREVER



Congolese Music / R.I.P. Forum Member Mwana Nsalu
« on: December 06, 2017, 17:45 »
It is with deep regret to inform the members of this forum that Ms. Stacey Bazu also known on this forum as Mwana Nsalu passed away Monday from breast cancer at age 35. A lot of us remember Ms. Bazu as an original member from previous forums where we've grown to know each other as a collective group for over 15 years. It is on these forums where she wowed us with her talents as a Congolese-American singing songs in Lingala and posting them online and displaying her passion for Odemba/Rhumba music. I am utterly heartbroken and saddened over this news. She leaves behind her father, Guy Angrand and a young son.

https://youtu.be/CoO0-E9zsDU






Tribute to Ms Bazu by FRANCO PEPE Franco Pepe Kalle https://www.facebook.com/francopepekalle?fref=mentions

TRIBUTE FOR MS BAZU

I am going to give tribute before I release another post. I am giving tribute to a lady that I had a pleasure for corresponing in some forums.
Her name is Ms Bazu. She was actually a singer who did cover songs. She had a very beautiful voice.
She was the daughter of radio host of Guy Angrand. Guy Angrand was a musician who once played with Pepe Felly of Grand Zaiko Wawa.
Part of the reason that I joined some forums was because I saw her posts and I was inspired to join. She had great insight into Congolese Music.
Recently she did a few songs that I have heard. It was pretty good and impressive.
This news shocks me and reminds me how unpredictable life can be.
I saw this video, I am amazed how good of a singer she was. It is ashame. She had a beautiful gift of singing. But I will cherish more when I see this video.

Rest in peace Ms. BAZU. You will always be in my heart. Your friends and Your family will keep in their minds every day. Thank you for your service that you gave us.
at December 09, 2017

Labels: Guy Angrand, Ms Bazu
:
Guy Mokonzi ya Rumba December 26, 2018 at 10:16 PM
THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE STACEY MS. BAZU PASSED AWAY.
SHE WAS ALSO KNOWN AS SHA. THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF HER AND FOR THIS MEMORIAL.
LOVE.
GUY ANGRAND

TRIBUTE BY CONGO VIBES BLOG FOR MS. BAZU AKA MWANA NSALU


R.I.P. Forum Member Mwana Nsalu
It is with deep regret to inform the members of this forum that Ms. Stacey Bazu also known on this forum as Mwana Nsalu passed away Monday from breast cancer at age 35. A lot of us remember Ms. Bazu as an original member from previous forums where we've grown to know each other as a collective group for over 15 years. It is on these forums where she wowed us with her talents as a Congolese-American singing songs in Lingala and posting them online and displaying her passion for Odemba/Rhumba music. I am utterly heartbroken and saddened over this news. She leaves behind her father, Guy Angrand and a young son.













https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156129707852711&l=3749b95112