Sorry so late with it. Here is a link to last night's show which was really great. There were no random sounds in the recording (lol) and the show recorded perfectly.
Here are two great videos I found on You Tube. Both songs played on the 07/21/07 show...
First up is MASSU sung by Jolie Detta for Franco & TP OK Jazz. Jolie Detta was the only woman to ever sing lead for Franco. In this clip she is backed up by Yondo Sister's twin sister Yondo Nyota. Both Detta and Nyota have since passed away...R.I.P. I love the song. From my limited understanding of Lingala it sounds like she is singing about her bestfriend. Its a really nice song and the dancing is great. Thank you to youtuber papanzinga for the clip...
This next clip is one of the legendary band Zaiko Langa Langa in 1975. From Left to Right the singers present in this clip are Lengi Lenga, Mashakado, Nyoka Longo and Likinga. Pepe Manuaku is on lead guitar and Ilo Pablo on the drums. If I am not mistaken Uncle Bapusse is on Bass in this clip. I LOOOOVE this song so much and the performance is spectacular. The dancing is great. I think I might have even posted this video before but it's great enough to post twice. I love it that much lol. In this clip they sing BELI MASHAKADO. Thank you to youtuber likinga (I often wonder if he is of any relation to likinga himself. I've asked through youtube but got no response...) Enjoy the clips...
01 felix wazekwa - tu me manques 02 jb mpiana - mohammed kaniansy 03 wenge musica - jessy chouchou de london 04 bozi boziana - ole ole 05 liputa - fally ipupa
Being able to stream a radio show on the internet is a really great feature of our time. Through the internet Tambour d'Afrique is able to reach people all over the world, not only through Radio Triomphe but also this blog and being able to rebroadcast the show over and over.We are able to reach way more people than if we depended soley on the actual radio frequency 101.9 SCA FM, which only reaches people in the tri-state area (New York-Connecticut-New Jersey). The downside to internet streaming however is that it can be unpredictable.
Last night as I recorded the show, through a program which records streaming audio, the stream just stopped at a certain point; just as Guy was getting into the newer congolese music. By the time I got it to work again the show was going off.
Unfortunately Guy did not make an audio cassette copy as he does on occasion. What I will do is make available the first half which recorded with no problem and then make a mix of the songs that Guy played for the second half. That mix will be available tomorrow.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience but sometimes these things happen. As great as technology can be it definitely is not perfect. I still owe you all a few other shows that I've been meaning to convert from audio cassette to mp3. Next week I will definitely have those for you. Thank you for continuing to tune into the show and to those who spread the word about Tambour d'Afrique, special thanks. We appreciate it.
Brand new episode of Tambour d'Afrique Tonight, 10pm to 12am @ www.radiotriomphe.com
Tonight's playlist was made by ME, ms bazu! Haha That' right. Guy was out and about today so I took it upon myself to create tonight's playlist so that he wouldn't be late for the show. You can expect to hear songs from Grand Zaiko, Les Kinois, Mpongo Love, Felix Wazekwa, Koffi Olomide and many more! Tune in...
On the last show Guy spoke about the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo as a nation and how it came about. Before the advent of colonialism, there stood a Kingdom at the mouth of the Nzadi River. The Kongo Kingdom . European interest in the area started as early as the 1400s when the Portuguese sent their 'explorers' and since then the Congo has had a long history of dealings with European nations at times joining forces with them; at other times fighting them off.
In the late 1870s explorer Henry Morton Stanley rediscovered the Congo River Basin. He is invited to join the International Africa Society which was a group which sought to research and civilize the people of Africa. Over time the groups imperialist goals began to surface. By the 1880s unbeknownst to the people of the Kongo Kingdom there was a plan devised to secretly form a Congo State (without the consent of the natives). As the Belgians looked to form the Congo State, the French claimed Brazzaville and the Portuguese claimed other portions of the Kingdom. This was the catalyst for what is commonly known today as The Scramble For Africa. It was labeled a scramble because at this time several European nations literally scrambling sending their 'explorers' and troops to different parts of Africa with hopes to secure land with no regard for the boundaries already set by the native people. The conference set out to avoid conflict between the European nations which sought to colonize Africa. The boundaries that fence in the nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo we know today, are the same boundaries that were set at the Berlin Conference. At this conference not a single African was present as the different nations of Europe grabbed pieces of the Great continent cutting up already existing empires at will.
In order to procure these pieces of land there was a great deal of deception that had to take place as well as bloodshed and war. A condition of the treaty which was signed at the Berlin Conference was that European nations had to have agreements with the Chiefs of the different areas they wished to possess. They also HAD to exploit the land (as that was the whole point of possessing it) or else another colonial power could come and take it from them. The Berlin Conference was essentially a business deal of which Africans had no real say. The freedom to own and trade was taken from the majority of Africans because of this conference.
The steps towards this conference had already been in the works for centuries as evidenced by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Portugal's early occupation of the Congo, etc. Africans did not take these actions sitting down but their attempts to retain freedom were too little to late. The imperialists had been planning their offense for much longer than Africans came with their defense the brutal force with which the imperialists struck was too much for the unsuspecting people whose weaknesses as people were being used against them. As they brutalized Africa they also trained their people back home who never encountered Black people, to think less of them for various ridiculous reasons. They even twisted bible passages to back up their theories. One needn't look any further than Tarzan to understand their view of the lowly cannibal savage in need of civilization that was the African. This was their vision of the African and therefore any atrocity committed against them was excused.
Imperialism is a dirty industry which still exists today under different more politically correct terms such as Globalization. Imperialism has wreaked havoc on whole empires, nations and cultures for resources, such as oil, diamonds, rubber, labor, etc. and has been the cause of many many wars. In several parts of Africa there are wars that are mere continuations of independence struggles and conflicts over resources that were supposed to have ended decades ago. Imperialists still own many of the industries in these nations that control and instigate conflict in order to continue their exploitation of the people and land. This hand of imperialism still has a strong hold on most of the nations of Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo is an area that is deeply effected by these imperialist powers to this day.
As I write this blog entry I am listening to the masterpiece 'Mabele' by Franco & TP OK Jazz. The song talks about the troubles of the World (Mabele means the Earth, World in Lingala). The singer towards the end of the song says something that stood out to me, one because it's one of the few lines I understand in the song and two because of what the line actually says:
"The white man does evil and kills people but can they kill the truth? The white man can't."
That line in my opinion, speaks to the importance of history and understanding our conditions, how we got caught in them and the key to removing ourselves from them (the truth). The truth is the world is suffering because of colonialism and imperialism (the only thing 'neo' (new) about imperialism today are the methods used to implement it; the idea is centuries old). There have been attempts to hide the truth but ut can not be taken away from us once we've attained it and we all know the saying, "The Truth Shall Set You Free."
PEACE...
***Historical information courtesy of Wikipedia. Click the various links for more indepth articles. All other words are Ms Bazu's opinion of said historical information and a reflection of lessons learned as a student of Guy and also Howard University***
Tambour d'Afrique has been on the air for approximately 6 months now. For the past 6 months I have been recording the show so that they can be heard over and over by you, the fans. Some episodes haven't made it to recording (a few are on audio cassette waiting to be converted. I promise to get them to you as soon as I can) and there were a few Saturdays where episodes were rebroadcast. But here you can download every Tambour d'Afrique that is available to share with others, and play in your cars and iPods. There reached a certain point where I lost count of which show was which so try not to pay any attention to the show numbers. I began to label them by date after a while...
Tonight a brand new and exciting episode of Tambour d'Afrique will be airing @ Radio Triomphe tonight @ 10 pm eastern standard time. Tomorrow I will be upping not just tonight's show for download, but many of the past episodes that can be heard in the Imeem player. Stay tuned for that. Have a good night and don't forget to tune into Tambour d'Afrique. Until then enjoy this song by Youlou Mabiala & his band Kamikaze Loningisa called Judoka. I've been listening to this all day. I just love it. I put it in a mix that I posted up not too long ago but it deserves it's own place...Enjoy
Whenever you tune into Tambour d'Afrique the first thing you hear is the energetic sounds of one of the most legendary artists in the world and in Congolese music, Papa Wemba (the song being Bakwetu). Papa Wemba is an icon and a legend. With some artists that I have profiled on this website information on them has been very limited but because of Papa Wemba's celebrity I was able to find several articles on his life that do him more justice than any entry I could muster. He has a rich long history the begins in his youth when he would accompany his mother, a funeral singer, to work. Here he learned the ins and outs of vocalizations, notes and melodies. Papa Wemba's place in history is solidified as he continues to create African music that is admired the world over. Today we salute Papa Wemba.
The site "Nostalgie Ya Mboka" asks that no one take any information from their site so I will instead link you to them. It is a very well constructed and in depth site and I am happy to share it with you all. PAPA WEMBA'S BIOGRAPHY
Toutes les fois que vous ecoutez Tambour d'Afrique la première chose que vous entendez c'est les bruits énergiques d'un des artistes les plus légendaires de la musique congolaise et du monde, Papa Wemba (la chanson Bakwetu). Papa Wemba est une icône et une légende. Les quelques artistes dont j'ai fourni le profil sur cette site, l'information a été très limité mais en raison de la célébrité de Papa Wemba, j'ai trouve plusieurs articles sur sa vie qui lui font plus de justice que n'importe quelle resume que je pourrais mettre sur papier ou alors l'ecran. Papa Wemba a une histoire riche qui commence dans sa jeunesse lorsqu'il accompagnerait sa mère, une chanteuse pour les funerailles. C'est ainsi qu'il a appris tous les aspects desvocalizations, des notes et des mélodies. La place de Papa Wemba dans l'histoire est solidifié pendant qu'il continue à créer la musique africaine qui est admirée partout dans le monde. Aujourd'hui nous saluons Papa Wemba.
Pour les gens qui parlent français ils peuvent trouver le même article sur son site officiel: PAPA WEMBA BIOGRAPHIE
Enjoy these videos and songs in celebration of Papa Wemba and his contribution to Ya Miziki Ya Congo... Appréciez ces videos et chansons de Papa Wemba et de sa contribution à " Miziki Ya Congo...
**more videos of Papa Wemba can be found @ Youtube.com. Search his name.** **plus de videos Papa Wemba peuvent être @ Youtube.com trouvés. Recherchez son nom**
Very few Congolese artists have made it from Le Belle Epoche to the present day Congolese music scene with their fan base still intact while also picking up new fans along the way. Many have passed away, while others simply lost their popularity over the years as the music of the Congo continued to go through changes. Tshala Muana is one such artist who has stood the test of time. Not only has Tshala Muana wowed audiences for years with her music she has been a advocate for political and social change in the Congo and has even had to flea the country because of her views and political work.
She was born Elizabeth Tshala Muana on March 13, 1958, in the Kasai section of the Congo the 2nd of 10 children. As a child she was very much into dance and the music of her native Kasai. Once she completed secondary school her love for music and dance grew and she dreamed of bringing the unique sounds of Kananga (her native village) called MUTUASHI to other parts of the Congo and eventually the world.
In 1976, she leaves Kananga for Kinshasa with the hopes of fulfilling her musical dreams. Allured by the voice and sound of Mpongo Love she soon joins Tcheke Tcheke Love (Mpongo's band) as a dancer in 1977. In that same year Muana decides to try her hand at singing. She releases two 45's which unfortunately bring her no success. She soon joins the group Minzoto Wela Wela and continues to struggle to make herself known as a vocalist.
In 1980 she decides to broaden her scope and embarks on a West African tour starting in Brazzaville and travels to Nigeria, Togo, and Ivory Coast. Success in Abidjan (the capitol of the Ivory Coast) being one of the musical centers of Africa enabled Tshala Muana to finally realize her success once she won that area over with her 45 single "Amina" which she recorded in Paris in 1982.
In 1984 she settles in Paris where she would eventually record 19 albums. She makes more world tours and almost everywhere she goes she wins awards and trophies for exceptional music. In 1987 she plays in the motion picture film "Falato".
In 1991 she was decreed by the Chiefs of the greater Kasai area as an Ambassador of Kasai Culture. In 1997 she returns to the Congo from Paris indefinitely. As an artist she has continuously fought for political soviernty and the territorial integrity of the Congo (Kinshasa). She created one of the greatest movements for women called REFECO (Regroupement des Femmes Congolaises: The Regrouping of Congolese Women) which continues to this day.
In the year 2000 she is appointed a Congolese national and takes a temporary break from her music. After 3 years at the urging of her manager she rejoins the music scene and creates a group called Dynasty Mutuashi and releases her 20th album "Dinanga Vuet Dire Amour" (Dinanga Means Love). The album is an insanely huge success in The Democratic Republic of Congo and throughout Africa. In 2002 she releases MALU (Problem) and continues to gain recognition for her music. In 2003 she wins the KORA award for Best Female Artist. MALU goes on to sell close to 600, 000 copies not counting the numerous bootlegs that were surely sold. Her latest album MAMU a double disc and dvd was released in 2006 bringing her discography to 22 albums. This release has also been met with rave reviews and continues Tshala's reign as the Queen of Mutuashi.
We at Tambour d'Afrique admire not only her music but her dedication to her native land and people. She is an artist of great caliber and a person with a purpose. I will leave you with examples of her great music and a video from her most recent release.
On last week's show Guy decided to diversify his playlist, mixing older Congolese rumba styles with the more new and fresh. In the past most of the selections played were from the '60s/'70s/'80s era which is many times affectionately called 'Le Belle Epoque' ("The Beautiful Era) of Congolese Rumba. In order to grab a wider audience he thought it best to start playing congolese music from the '90s and 2000s. Soon there will be a segment of the show dedicated exclusively to the newer music where new favorites like Werrason, Koffi Olomide, JB MPiana, Fally Ipupa etc will be played. We at Tambour d'Afrique are excited with the way the show continues to evolve and grow.
To all the fans everywhere you are definitely appreciated and you are always in mind with every move the show makes. Thank you very much for your continued dedication and support.
To commemorate the new changes I will leave you with one of my favorite Fally Ipupa songs. Fally Ipupa (picture to the right) is a 29 year old Kinshasa born and raised vocalist and composer. Once a singer for Koffi Olomide's Quatier Latin, he released his solo debut "Droit Chemin" in 2006 to rave reviews. His style is a mixture of traditional Congolese Rumba, Ndombolo and a heavy R&B influence which along with his incredible voice and charming good looks have given him great cross over appeal in the european market. He has even sold out shows in the U.S. and Canada.
Here is his song 'Mabele'. Mabele means 'the Earth' in Lingala. From my limited command of the language I think he is singing to God, the Ancestors, the Earth and giving thanks and praise. Through much of the song he names people. My assumption is that he is naming people in his life that have helped him and who have been important to his life. My translations of Lingala are always rough so if you speak Lingala...PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG! I promise I will not be offended (haha). I will make the necessary corrections.
Also Tambour d'Afrique fans can now reach host Guy Angrand on MYSPACE!
Sur l'exposition de la semaine dernière le type a décidé de diversifier son playlist, mélangeant des modèles congolais plus anciens de rumba au plus nouveau et frais. Dans le passé la plupart des choix joués avaient lieu 'de l'ère 60s/'70s/'80s qui est beaucoup de fois 'Le Belle Epoque affectueusement appelé '(The Beautiful Era) de Rumba congolais. Afin de saisir une assistance plus large il l'a pensée mieux pour commencer à jouer la musique congolese des '90s et du 2000s. Bientôt il y aura un segment de l'exposition consacrée exclusivement à la musique plus nouvelle où les nouveaux favoris aiment Werrason, Koffi Olomide, JB MPiana, Fally Ipupa etc.. seront joués. Nous au Tambour d'Afrique sommes excités avec la manière que l'exposition continue à évoluer et se développer.
À tous les fans partout vous êtes certainement apprécié et vous êtes toujours à l'esprit avec chaque démarche que l'exposition entreprend. Merci infiniment de votre attachement continu et le soutenez.
Pour commémorer les nouveaux changements je vous laisserai avec une de mes chansons préférées de Fally Ipupa. Fally Ipupa (image vers la droite) est des 29 ans vocalist de vieux Kinshasa et compositeur soutenus et augmentés. Une fois un chanteur pour le latin de Quatier de Koffi Olomide, il a libéré son début solo "droit Chemin" en 2006 aux revues d'éloge. Son modèle est un mélange de Rumba congolais traditionnel, Ndombolo et une influence lourde de R&B qu'avec son voix incroyable et de bons regards charmants ont donnés lui à grand appel d'excédent de croix sur le marché européen. Il s'est même vendu hors des expositions aux ETATS-UNIS et au Canada.
Voici sa chanson 'Mabele '. Mabele signifie 'la terre 'dans Lingala. De mes connaissances limitées en langue je pense qu'il chante à Dieu, les ancêtres, la terre et donne des mercis et l'éloge. Par une grande partie de la chanson il appelle des personnes. Ma prétention est qu'il appelle les personnes dans sa vie qui l'ont aidé et qui ont été importantes pour sa vie. Mes traductions de Lingala sont toujours rugueuses ainsi si vous parlez Lingala... svp ME CORRIGEZ SI j'ai TORT ! Je promets que je ne serai pas offensé (haha). Je ferai les corrections nécessaires.
En outre les fans de d'Afrique de Tambour peuvent maintenant atteindre le type Angrand de centre serveur sur MYSPACE !
Sa adresse de page est www.myspace.com/guyangrand Sensation librement pour le laisser tomber une ligne. PAIX...
**Pardonnez-moi pour toutes les erreurs grammaticales. J'emploie Babelfish.altavista.com pour traduire.**
A brand new episode for you to listen and enjoy over and over again. Last night's episode recorded with no problems. You may find a few random sound effects in there (sorry about that). But other than that everything is perfect. Here is the show:
