RIP LIKINGA REDO MAGENZA (ZAIKO LANGA LANGA)

On Thursday August 8th, legendary Zaiko Langa Langa vocalist and songwriter Likinga Redo passed away.   Apparently he had been ill for a while and went to France to get treatment. Unfortunately he still succumbed to the illness. I will be posting more on this sad news tomorrow once I have gathered more information.

Until then I leave you with one of his compositions from his time with Zaiko Langa Langa in the 70s. The beautiful song Viya.

New Bozi Boziana Album - Fiko Fiko Fio

Here are some excerpt video clips from Bozi Boziana's latest album Fiko Fiko Fio.  Thank you DJ SLY of Congo Vibes for bringing this to my attention. Enjoy!

Baby Ndombe - Amelia Mamelo - Le Noir

A beautiful song from the son of Pepe Ndombe (TP OK Jazz and Afrisa International), Baby Ndombe. This is from his latest album Le Noir which came out sometime late last year (or maybe early this year I am not entirely sure). I am admittedly not familiar with his work but I will make it a point to seek him out. This song is great. His voice is amazing. He is definitely his father's son. Please enjoy. Thank you archos @ Congo Vibes for bringing this video to my attention. 

EDITED TO ADD: Also featured on the song is Baby Ndombe's younger brother Njo Ndombe aka 6 Etoiles.

BULDOZER GENERIQUE

BOLOLÉ...New Fabregas Metis Noir a fait son chemin.

NEW SONGS BY FABRES LE METIS NOIR SUR TAMBOUR D'AFRIQUE ET LA RADIO KILIM, LE RESEAU BAOBA It's been many years since former Wenge Musica Maison Mére vocalist Fabregas left from underneath Werrason's wing to forge his own path as a solo artist.  His solo album Amour Amour and many more... have been well received by the public and has allowed him to perform across Europe and The DRC. He released several albums since then and 2035 is no exception. You can purchase his music from iTunes including this special collection: Amour Amour (Collector's Edition).  He is one of our favorite new artists to emerge in the last few years for his unique approach to singing and great song writing.  Tambour d'Afrique and Radio Kilim wish him continued success! FUSIBLE GOMME NDOMBOLOGIE OU DINDOLOGIE MOPEPE BOLOLE

Amour Assassin...

In the DRC music industry it is not uncommon these days for a song writer to sell his song to more than one singer /producer who usually then puts his own spin on it and releases it.  Most times when this happens whoever the bigger star is who is singing the song will get the most recognition for it.

Today we will look at the song Amour Assassin. This song has been released on Fally Ipupa's latest opus "Power Kosa Leka" but Ferre Gola's vocalist Jus d'Orange recorded and released a video for it just weeks before PKL was released. I actually like both versions very much.  Fally's version is better produced over all with the production being more sleek and modern and the vocal arrangements more smooth while Jus d'Orange's version is more reminiscent of 'pure' rumba with the guitar arrangement taking center stage in the production yet it is less polished. They are both very good vocalists imo and the song is just very well written. You be the judge, which do you like best??

Jus d'Orange

Fally Ipupa

You can find the lyrics here: AMOUR ASSASSIN - CONGOKINLYRICS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Happy Independence Day, DRC/RDC!!

This year for Independence Day I share with you the movie Lumumba directed by Raoul Peck (read the blog entry I wrote about him and the movie Lumumba in 2007, HERE).  Enjoy and always remember the ancestors who fought for us and the freedom fighters who continue the work. Bless.

TRAILER OF THE MOVIE BY RAOUL PECK

CongoFest: Break The Silence

Next Saturday a big benefit concert called CongoFest: Break The Silence for the Democratic Republic of Congo will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 22nd. The line up looks great!!

Here's some information from Pittsburgh's cultural district website. Ticket information is also on the website.

"CONGOFEST: Break the Silence
a Humanitarian concert featuring PEPE FELLY MANUAKU WAKU, the creator of Congolese Pop Style

Afrika Yetu, with the Congolese Musicians of North America, present a stunning range of Congolese music, from traditional sounds of the Pygme forest to the more modern soukous music, with elements of rumba, samba, meringue and Congolese Styles of Afro-Jazz. CongoFest is a collaborating effort of Congolese musicians coming together for the first time for a melodic, rhythmic sound-filled concert of all Congolese styles to create awareness about the devastating war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. CongoFest’s musical potpourri is a treat for the eyes as well as ears when traditional dancers of WACONGO Dance Company and Patience Ibembo from Quartier Latin take stage and perform breathtaking movements of mutuashi, kwasa kwasa, soukous dance and more."

http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/38813/congofest-break-the-silence