Photo by Martin Sinnock, Paris Olympia 2002
I was deeply saddened by the passing of Vieux Rochereau a little while back.
I was moved beyond words by the recent loss of King Kester Emenya.
His music was a voice, an energy, an elegance that has been a huge part of my life for the past thirty years.
The program today is a tribute to the life and music of Jean Emeneya Mubiala Kwamambu, King Kester Emeneya. Upon my request, many songs presented here were chosen by his friend Martin Sinnock.
I'm including a link to the wonderful article that Martin wrote for the Africa Sounds site some years back.
http://www.africasounds.com/beat_vol_4.htm
It is probably the best article written about the King in any language and it's so full of information, photographs and more that I refer you to the article in lieu of posting album covers or any more of my humble writings. HIGHLY recommended!!!!
Here is the program:
http://www.hightail.com/download/elNMK0dqQ0NCSm8wTWRVag
or here if the above has expired:
http://www.radio4all.net/index.php?op=result&action=series&series=Ambiance%20Congo&nav=&
Here is the track list:
PART A
1) King Kester Emeneya & Victoria Eleison Dream Team Dream
Band
sebene from DORIS ILOKO (this program’s theme song)
from the CD PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music
2) ) King Kester Emeneya & Victoria Eleison Dream Team
Dream Band
DORIS ILOKO *
from the CD PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music
3)King Kesster Emeneya
NZINZI (live)
from the DVD AU PALAIS DU PEUPLE KINSHASA
Martin Mapangu
4)King Kester Emeneya & Victoria Eleison
ATA MPIAKA BIS
from the CD MANHATTAN
Ngoyarto
5)Le Prophete Cartouche & The Victoria Eleison All Stars
PRPHEE SISSI
from the CD EVERYBODY TALK ‘BOUT
Production Grand Samurai
6)Benz Petrole
MILLE PARDONS
from the CD VACCIN
JPS Productions
7)Emeneya Kester & Victoria Eleison
DIKANDO
from the CD LA ELEGANCE **
Obouo Music/Because Music
PART B
8) King Kester Emeneya & Victoria Eleison Dream Team
Dream Band
KIMPIATU **
from the CD MBOKA MBOKA
King Kester Emeneya production/B&H Electronic
9) L'Orchestre Victoria Eleison avec Kester Emeneya
NAYA **
from the CD NAYA 1982
Ngoyarto
10)Viva la Musica
DEMBELA **
from the CD NDAKO YA NDELE
Sonodisc
11)King Kester Emeneya
WASHINGTON **
from the CD LONGUE HISTOIRE 1
Calbass Productions
12) King Kester Emeneya
DIEU EST VIVANT **
from the CD SUCCES FOU
Melodie
13) King Kester Emeneya
DAISY **
from the CD LE JOUR PLUS LONG
Kiki Production
14)Bell Anto
BOYOKA
from the CD DIVERGENCE
Montaguy Production
*=by request
**=chosen by Martin Sinnock for this program
Listening to the show... a great collection that remembers King Kester though his music. Apurva from Pune, India.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutlely superb show, David, many thanks for this fitting tribute. Had it not been for Martin Sinnock & yourself playing so much of Emeneya's music on your shows, I don't think I'd have come to enjoy his records as much as I do. So, thanks to both of you for educating me!
ReplyDeleteThose old gig posters on the link are interesting, aren't they? You'd probably cross continents to see any one of those shows if they were on tomorrow, wouldn't you?
By the way, I just noticed that it's 5 years since Alpatchino became no more. Any chance you could play something off his Offensive Generalisee CD next time round?
Alternatively, how about Destin Ya Moto ( or Dieu Voit Tout, not sure which is the correct title) by Papa Wemba? For no other reason than it's fantastic and Papa Wemba is still with us.
I'm sure you will enjoy it, Apurva. Thank you for writing!
ReplyDeleteHi Dave. Those old posters make me want to kick myself for NOT going!
ReplyDeleteEmeneya was amazing. The only time I attended a concert, it was a disappointing venue. A band was thrown together for him with Huit Kilos on guitar and back up singer (ex-Empire Bakuba)Misha M'Fum. Other than these guys, he did not have much to work with. The concert was poorly advertised and meagerly attended. But he put on a great show. He could do that!
Thanks for the requests! I'll get them in for you.