Welcome to Ambiance Congo!
If you live here in Richmond or you can get to Richmond for Folk Fest http://www.richmondfolkfestival.org/docs/event_schedule.html you will be treated to three performances by Samba Mapangala and Orchestra Virunga.
Samba Mapangala was born in Matadi, Congo and began his musical career in Kinshasa. On tour in the eastern part of the country in the mid-70s, Samba and others from the group Orchestre Saka Saka left to begin work in Uganda as Les Kinois or, roughly, "The Kinshasa Guys". In 1977, they moved to Nairobi, Kenya and in 1981 started Orchestra Virunga. It was at that time that Samba and his band recorded the album that has gained and kept international attention, IT'S DISCO TIME WITH SAMBA MAPANGALA & ORCH VIRUNGA (aka MALAKO DISCO). This set of songs was reissued on the Earthworks label as VIRUNGA VOLCANO, an album listed as one of the 100 "must-have world music releases" of all time.
We start the program today with a track from Samba Mapangala and Virunga's new LIVE ON TOUR release, a song by Les Kinois and one from MALAKO. After that, we talk a bit with Samba on the phone and we are honored to be able to premiere a new song of his.
The second hour of the program features more songs from Congolese musicians and groups who made their mark in Kenya - Baba Gaston, Les Noirs, Les Mangelepa, Orchestra Viva Makale, Super Mazembe and more.
Here are a few of the album covers from today's program.
For the next two weeks, you may download a copy of this program here:
And here's the track list
1)King Kester Emeneya
sebene from DORIS ILOKO (this program's theme song)
from the CD PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music
2)Samba Mapangala & Virunga
SUNGURA
from the digital-only release VIRUNGA LIVE ON TOUR
Virunga Music
3)Les Kinois
LES KINOIS PTS. 1 & 2 *
from the 45 RPM single
World Record Company
4)Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga
AHMED SABIT *
from the CD VIRUNGA VOLCANO
Earthworks
-Interview with Samba Mapangala-
5)Samba Mapangala
LES GORILES
World Wildlife Fund
-Interview with Samba Mapangala-
6)Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga
KAA CHONJO
from the CD SONG & DANCE
Samba Mapangala production
7)Baba Gaston & Orchestre Baba National
HELLO HELLO
from the LP ILUNGA ILUNGA
Polygram Records Ltd.
8)Les Mangelepa
EMBAKASI *
from the LP NYAKO KONYA
ASL
9)Orchestre Viva Makale
BIBI MDOGO PTS. 1 & 2
from the LP THE AFRICAN STARS COLLECTION VOLUME 4
Jumbo Jet
10)Orchestra Super Mazembe
MUANA NIAU PTS. 1 & 2
from the LP MALOBA D'AMOUR
Discafrique
11)Les Noirs
KUMBE BOLINGO
from the LP LES NOIRS
Pathe
12)Orchestre Shika Shika
DIABANZA
13)Orchestre Special Liwanza
MWALE 1 & 2
from the 45 RPM single
Golden Toddy
*=by request
Fantastic program. A special thanks for playing 'Ka Chonjo.' Apurva from Pune, India.
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