Congolese musicians (from left) Wuta Mayi, Nyboma Mwandido and Nana Akumu.
Leading Congolese musicians based in Europe, including former members of the legendary Franco's TPOK Jazz band, are planning a major concert in Belgium later this month. The show will commemorate the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and honour two departed colleagues, the Soki brothers of the Orchestre Bella Bella Band (Les Fres Soki).
Mercurial singers Nana Akumu, Malage de Lugendo and Wuta Mayi (all formerly of TPOK Jazz) have been at the forefront of organising the show in the former colonial ruler's territory.
They will be joined by compatriot and leading vocalist Nyboma Mwandido, as well as guitarists Caen Madoka, Beniko Polipo and Papy Muntu, among other artists, during the mega concert.
The concert will be held next Friday at the Birmingham Palace in the Belgian capital, Brussels. It will build up the momentum for the 66th anniversary of DR Congo's independence, which will be marked on June 30.
Belgium-based Congolese singer Nana Akumu.
In a recent telephone interview with the Saturday Nation, Nana Akumu said that they had been rehearsing some very special songs for the concert and were looking forward to putting on a great show for their rhumba fans.
"This year, we want to offer our European fans something extra during our Independence Day celebrations compared to previous years. This additional tribute will be to the Soki brothers, Maxim Soki Vangu and Emile Soki Dianzenza, of the Bella Bella band," she said.
To many Congolese music fans, the two Soki brothers remain the unsung heroes whom those in Europe have yet to discover.
Soki Dianzenza (left) and Kanda Bongoman in 1974.
Belgium, the former colonial ruler of DR Congo, remains an integral part o the Congolese political and social heritage. It was here that the independence talks were held in 1960. It remains quite nostalgic, as this was where the freedom song Independence Cha Cha, by the legendary Grand Kalle Jeff, backed by the African Jazz band, was performed in February and June 1960.
Other members of the African Jazz Band at the time included guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, Déchaud Mwamba, Roger Izeidi and Pierre Yatula. Guest performers included Armando Brazzos and Vicky Longomba. Afterwards, most of the leading Congolese musicians, including Franco Luambo Makiadi, founder and leader of TPOK Jazz, settled in the country. Many other Congolese immigrants later settled there and excelled in sports and other creative pursuits.
The Orch Bella Bella band (Frères Soki) was, from late 1969, one of the top Congolese dance beat groups, specialising in the up-tempo cavacha dance beat, took the entire African continent and Europe by storm.
Around the same time, Orch Zaiko Langa Langa and Thu Zahina were formed, becoming some of the leading and most creative groups. Some of Bella Bella's hit songs include Lina, Baboti Bapekisi, Sylvie, Alexandrine and Mbuta.
The two Soki brothers later split briefly with Dianzenza, forming Bella Mambo, while Soki teamed up with Pepe Kalle Yampanya and Nyboma to produce some exciting music.
In an interview with the Saturday Nation on Wednesday, UK-based Congolese musician Kanda Bongoman confirmed that he had performed with Dianzenza in Bella Mambo.
"That was my first band. Many of my fans liked my voice because it was similar to Dianzenza's," he said.
Congolese musician Kanda Bongo Man.
Kanda Bongoman took part in the singing some of the Bella Mambo songs, such as Mazina. The Soki brothers regrouped in 1977, releasing popular songs such as Horoscope.
As Kanda recalled, Soki often travelled to Germany, where his elder sibling lived. It was a double tragedy for the Soki brothers in 1990 when Soki passed away in Germany, just two weeks after his younger brother, Dianzeza, had died in Kinshasa.
Musically talented brothers
"The sudden deaths of the two musically talented brothers within a month caught many of us by surprise,” said Kanda.
For Nyboma Mwandido, the forthcoming concert will be a welcome opportunity to remind himself of the times he recorded with with the Bella Bella band.
“This was during the early part of my music career and I still cherish those times,” he said.
Veteran Congolese singer Nyboma Mwandido.
It was during his time with the band that he teamed up with Soki Vangu and Pepe Kalle on singing on some of the big songs, such as Sola and Mbuta.
Nyboma later led a splinter group from the Orch Bella Bella band to form Orch Lipua Lipua. The band became a huge sensation when they released the hit single Kamale.
As for Nana Akumu, she was part of the TPOK Jazz group that accompanied Franco Luambo on his final tour of Belgium in January 1989. The legendary Franco died on 12 October that same year.
"Franco advised us to stay in Brussels, and we have done so ever since," she recalled.
Nana, who describes Kenya as her second musical home, first came to Nairobi with the legendary Baba Gaston Illunga wa Illunga. They travelled through Kampala in 1978.
She and her colleagues later formed the group Orch Pepelepe (Bana Ekanga). The other members of the group were Bijou Yassa, Ibrahim, Pepe Mato and Tabu Nkotela.
For Nana, 1979 marked a milestone in her personal life. It was the year she gave birth to her first child at Nairobi’s Pumwani Maternity Hospital.
In 1984, she returned to Kinshasa to join the Tier Monde Cooperation Band.
Later in 1986, she joined TPOK Jazz alongside Baniel Bambo. They replaced Jolie Detta, who had left the band the same year.
Other surviving former members of TPOK living in Europe include veteran guitarist Dizzy Mandjeku, who has taken a break from music due to ill health, and guitarist Michelino Mavatiku Visi, who now lives in Paris.
Dizzy has been leading the Odemba OK Jazz All Stars band, which features many former TPOK Jazz members.
Wuta Mayi left the TPOK Jazz Band in 1982, having joined the group in 1974. He enjoyed an illustrious career with the band, and one of his greatest compositions was titled Ayant Droit.
While with TPOK Jazz, he sang alongside vocal virtuosos Lola Checain, Michel Boyibanda, Ntesa Dalienst and Sam Mangwana. Others included Prince Youlou Mabiala, Djo Mpoyi, and Ndombe Opetum. In Paris, Wuta Mayi has performed with session groups such as the 4 Stars and Kekele.
Singer Malage de Lugendo initially rose to fame with his melodious lead vocals on Lutumba Simaro’s Testament ya Bowule in 1986. He later joined Orch Zaiko Langa Langa and is currently performing with Odemba OK Jazz band.
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