Ambiance Congo for Sunday March 30, 2008

Listen live from 3:00-5:00 PM eastern time USA
http://wrir.org/x/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=41

This program is the first of a series in which I'll trace the history of Les Bantous de la Capitale.
One of the longest standing bands in Congolese music history, Les Bantous de la Capitale made their first public appearance in August of 1959 and released their latest CD in September of 2007.

Here is the sleeve of one of their earliest 45 RPM records on the Colombia label, with the band recording as Essous et Orchestre Bantou.
Thanks to Pieter at http://seaneverdry.blogspot.com/ for this image and to Cheeku for helping me to get in touch with him.

Here is the cover of the 2007 CD released on the Cyriaque Bassoka Productions label.

To see more album covers, please visit the excellent Bantous de la Capitale discography page compiled by Ronald at http://vibesdafrique.proboards83.com/index.cgi?board=3&action=display&thread=1187784895

I'll be playing some of the early 50s and 60s music of the band in the first hour or so of the program. These songs were recorded under the names Orchestre Bantou and Bantous Jazz as well as Les Bantous de la Capitale.

Following independance, the new spirit of "Ata Ndele" (sooner or later) and "Congo ya Sika" (The New Congo), accomplished musicians working across the river in reknowned groups such as African Jazz, OK Jazz and Rock A Mambo returned home and formed Orchestre Bantou. The group shortly became so completely popular that they became Congo's cultural ambassadors and performed all over Africa in the 1960s. The group included Nino Malapet, Jean-Serge Essous, Pandi, Edo Ganga, Celestin Kouka, Daniel "De La Lune" Lubelo and, in 1960, the famed guitarist Papa Noel.

Edo Ganga and De La Lune returned to OK Jazz in 1962 and were replaced by Francis Bitshoumanou (who also later went to OK Jazz) and Joseph Bukasa. In 1963, they were joined by the great singer "Pablito" Pamelo Mounk'a. Pablito was already an accomplished musician in the widely popular style of Cuban son and had an admirable command of Spanish. At this time, the band changed its official name to Bantous-Jazz and soon after to Les Bantous de la Capitale.

Please listen in as we play some of their early songs and set the scene with cuts from African Jazz, OK Jazz, Rock A Mambo and also from Camille Feruzi who has been cited as one of the great contributors to the fusion of early Congolese recorded music and Cuban son.

Your requests and comments are always welcome!

Did you miss the program? For a limited time, you may download a copy here:

http://download.yousendit.com/642B80C422A2AE9D

Ambiance Congo for Sunday March 16, 2008

Listen live http://wrir.org/x/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=41

3:00-5:00 Eastern time USA

BATTLE OF THE MABANGA!

The praise song is a Pan-African tradition that is still vital today. In Congolese popular music, the aspect of praise and praise-for-compensation in just about any and every song has become a new, added-on part of the music. This new element is called "mabanga". It seems many times that, no matter what any given song is about, the artists need to call out the names of patrons. This has become a new element that is almost constant today, a new cadence that is added to the music that is, primarily, a list of benefactors.This could be, in my opinion, tradition taking on a next logical step. I have to admit though, many many times, I try to imagine a song without the "mabanga"! This afternoon you'll hear lots and lots of songs for or about benefactors and sponsors...be they individual philanthropists or companies providing some underwriting. We'll compare the more traditional staight-up no excuses praise song with a few prime exaples of modern mabanga.

Many many thanks to my friend Minu who submitted the idea for this edition.

Here's an ablum we'll hear from this time around. The front cover seems like any other Choc Stars album.

But then check out the back of the sleeve! It is literally and ad for Skol beer, a great sponsor of modern Congolese music.

We'll hear songs for other individual and corporate sponsors and benefactors as well.

Here are a few of the other albums we'll hear from this time around. Enjoy!


You are invited to join the discussion here:
http://vibesdafrique.proboards83.com/index.cgi?board=1&action=display&thread=1205374021
or here:
http://www.africambiance.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5191
or, of course, right here by leaving a comment. No need to register, just leave your name!

See the track listing for this edition here:

http://wrir.org/x/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6409

Did you miss the program? For the next two weeks, you may now download a low resolution copy right here:

http://download.yousendit.com/8DAB1D885D312892

Les Bantous de la Capitale

Formed in 1959 as Orchestre Bantou, this band's members are still performing today as Les Bantous de la Capitale. Over the course of the next year and interspersed with our usual mix-and-request programs, I'll be bringing you a number of special editions of Ambiance Congo in which the history and music of this illustrious band will be featured.

I'll also have songs from other ventures by Bantous members...Les Nzoi, Le Peuple and more.

This post is a "heads up" for these programs and an invitation to you to request favorite songs.

No need to register here, your comments are always welcome.

To whet your appetite, I include for your pleasure a song from the rare Sonafric label LP featured at the top of this post.

http://media.putfile.com/Les-Bantous-de-la-Capitale---MAYELE-YA-MOTO

Ambiance Congo for Sunday March 2, 2008

Listen live 3:00-5:00 PM Eastern USA time www.wrir.org

Here's the intended tracklist, but you are invited to comment with requests or suggestions.

1)King Kester Emeneya
sebene from DORIS ILOKO (this program's these song)
from the CD: PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music

2)Kosmos Moutouari
BA TA MBIEMO
from the LP: KOSMOS
Dragon Phenix / Safari Ambiance

3)Orchestre Le Peuple Trio Ce.Pa.Kos.
BAZA
from the LP: ORCHESTRE "LE PEUPLE" TRIO CE.PA.KOS"
EMI / Pathe Marconi

4)Pamelo Mounk'a
LE TRAVAIL TOUJOURS LE TRAVAIL
from the LP: 20 ANS DE CARRIERE
I.A.D. / Genidia

5)Des-Desouza
BOUKU YA LOPANGO
from the CD: ZERO UN
2 Mizik

6)Madilu System
AKO *
from the CD: L'EAU
JPS Production

7)Felix Wazekwa
EKANZA
from the CD: QUE DEMANDE LE PEUPLE?
Production Fondation Wazekwa

8)Bozi Boziana
TSHALA
from the CD: L'HEURE DE VERITE
Naelis Music

9)Choc Stars
VIE NA NGAI
from the LP: CHOC STARS RETOUVAILLES A PARIS VOULME 2 JAMINATA
Rythmes et Musique

10)Clan Langa Langa
ANONDA CHERIE A
from the CD: SIX MEGA STARS DU CLAN LANGA LANGA
Gillette D'Or International

11)Patrouille Des Stars
VIE EGALE PROBLEMES
from the CD: OBUS KANGA BISSAKA
Denide Production

12)Lidjo Kwempa
MISS COLETTE
from the CD: BOULOUKOUTOU
Production Grand Samurai

13)Maze Moke
NAPESI YO MOTEMA
from the LP: NAPESI YO MOTEMA
Kiamana Productions Services

14)Prince Youlou Mabiala
MAKA
from the LP: JUDOKA
I.A.D.

15)Ange Linaud
LOKOLA POLOKAMBA
from the LP: ANGE LINAUD
Musi-Club

16)Bantous Jazz
CHA CHA CHA PARATI
from the LP: LES MERVEILLES DU PASSE (1962-1964) VOL.3
African


Did you miss the program?
For a limited time, you may download a low resolution copy here:
http://download.yousendit.com/57549AA767BB7A8C
or visit on the Ambiance Congo Audio Archives.