This time I am with a special guest who has chosen many of the songs you will hear.
Alan Brain is a Peruvian filmmaker who spent almost 8 years in the Democratic Republic of Congo filming for the United Nations. He was hired to document UN efforts to curtail human rights abuses in Eastern DRC, but he also made documentaries that highlighted positive aspects of Congolese culture, society and individuals.
Alan has a deep love for the Congolese people and a great appreciation for them, for their culture and for their music. Although he traveled the country, he was based in Kinshasa where, among other things like performing as a singer in a salsa band with Congolese musicians. He began working on a feature documentary about the golden era of Congolese Rumba called "The Rumba Kings".
The film includes interviews with such living legends as Lutumba Simaro from the OK Jazz, Nedule Montswet aka Papa Noel, Guvano from Tabu Ley band, Faugus Izeidi from African Fiesta, Moniania Roitelet from Rock a Mambo, Verckys Kiamanguana from Orchestre Veve, Pepe Fely Manuaku from Zaiko Langa Langa, Maproco and Bikounda from Wendo Kolosoi band, Nkuka Mathiu from African Jazz, and many others. A good sample of his documentary is a short film he made with the last 2 survivors of the legendary Congolese Rumba band African Jazz of Grand Kalle that played in the Congo independence in Belgium and that composed the famous song "Independance Cha Cha Cha".
You can check the trailer for "The Rumba Kings" here:
https://vimeo.com/alanbrain/rumbakings
It was my pleasure to have Alan on the show, we talked history and music, some politics and opinions.
Comments are always welcome!
Listen to the program here:
https://www.hightail.com/download/cUJYaXRBQ3RoMlc1eDhUQw
or here:
http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Ambiance+Congo
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) Bitshoumanou & l’Orchestre Celi-Bitshu
NAZALI NA CONFIANCE
from the 45 RPM single
Super Contact
3) Orchestre Makina Loka
MAKINA LOKA
from the LP EDITIONS VEVE
African
4) Tabu Ley & l’African Fiesta
CONGO AVENIR *
from the LP JOLIE ELIE
Syllart Productions
5) Franco & OK Jazz
EN ENTRE OK ON SORT KO *
from the CD FRANCOPHONIC: FRANCO & LE TPOK JAZZ
Sterns
6) Joseph Kabasele & l’African Jazz
INDEPENDENCE CHA CHA *
from the CD LE GRAND KALLE: HIS LIFE, HIS MUSIC
Sterns
7) Franco & OK Jazz
BAZONZELE MAMA ANA *
from the CD FRANCOPHONIC: FRANCO & LE TPOK JAZZ
Sterns
8) Rock
A Mambo
MI CANCION
from the LP “AFRICAN RETRO” VOL.5: ROCK A MAMBO
EMI/Pathe Marconi
PART B
9) Delvis El Salsero & Manuaku Pepe Fely
AFRICA MOKILI MOBIMBA
from the CD LES GRANDS CLASSIQUES DE LA MUSIQUE CONGOLAISE
Kos & Co.
10) Lo-Benel
MARIE-LOUISE
from the CD JUSQU’ AU PETIT MATIN
Cyriaque Bassoka Productions
11) Tabu Ley & l’African Fiesta National
MOKOLO NAKOKUFA *
from the CD ROCHEREAU ET L’AFRICAN FIESTA NATIONAL
1966/1967/1968
African/Sonodisc
12) Tatyana Luswawa
WAFUTUKA *
unreleased original recording
13) Cize Nkosi
CESSE LE FEU *
unreleased original recording
14) Verckys et le VeVe
NAKOMITUNAKA *
from the CD VERCKYS ET LE VEVE 1969/1971
African/Sonosic
15) Docteur Nico & l’African Fiesta
MAMBO HAWAIENNE *
from the LP MERVEILLES DU PASSE: ETERNEL DOCTEUR NICO &
ORCHESTRE AFRICAN FIESTA 1963/1965
African
16) Docteur Nico & l’African Fiesta Sukisa
MOKILI MATATA
from the LP HIT PARADE NO.1
Tcheza
17) L’Orchestre Bella-Bella
SOFELE *
from the CD LES PLUS GRANDS SUCCES DE L’ORCHESTRE BELLA
BELLA: LES FRERES SOKI 1971/1975
Ngoyarto
*=by request of guest, Alan Brain