Jean-Bedel Mpiana Tshituka, also known as JB Mpiana, was born on June 2nd 1967 in Luluabourg (Kananga). He is a Congolese (DRC) composer-songwriter. With Werrason, Alain Makaba, Didier Masela, Marie-Paul and Aime Buanga, they founded the group Wenge Musica in 1981. The group dis-banded in 1997, upon which JB formed Wenge BCBG, supported by the exceptionally gifted guitarist, Alain Makaba and singers Blaise Bula, Alain Mpela, Toutou Caloudji, Roberto Ekokota and Aimèlia Alias.
JB Mpiana has played in “Parisian Music Temples” like the Music Hall of Olympia, the Zenith of Paris, the General sports Palace of Paris, Trabendo, the Elysium Montmartre, the Medley of Montreal, and Rex Stanfors in Great Britain.
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) in Newark, New Jersey to Jewish Hungarian parents, is an American singer-songwriter and musician, perhaps best known for his partnership with Art Garfunkel in the duo Simon & Garfunkel. In 2006, Time magazine called him one of the 100 “people who shape our world.” As of 2007, he resides in New Canaan, Connecticut. [ READ MORE ] [ OFFICIAL PAUL SIMON WEBSITE ] [ More Music By PAUL SIMON ]
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About LadySmith Black Mambazo:
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal style of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards. They were formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960 and became one of South Africa’s prolific recording artists, with their releases receiving gold and platinum disc honours. The group has now become a mobile academy, teaching people about South Africa and its culture. [ READ MORE ] [ OFFICIAL MAMBAZO WEBSITE ] [ More Music By LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO ]
1.Isicathamiya (with the ‘c’ pronounced as a dental click) is a singing style that originated from the South African Zulus. In European understanding, a cappella is also used to describe this form of singing. — [ MORE ]
2.Mbube — is a form of South African vocal music, made famous by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The word mbube means “lion” in Zulu. Traditionally performed a cappella, the style is sung in a powerful and loud way (see Mbube Roots, Rounder CD 5025). The members of the group are male, although quite a few groups often have a female singer (On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom). However, since the formation of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the style has fallen in favour of softer singing, which is known as isicathamiya.
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About Hugh Masekela:
[ Enlarge ] Hugh Ramopolo Masekela (b. Witbank, South Africa, April 4, 1939) is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.
He began singing and playing piano as a child. At age 14, after seeing the film Young Man With a Horn (in which Kirk Douglas portrays American jazz trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke), he took up playing the trumpet. His first trumpet was given to him by Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, the anti-apartheid chaplain at St. Peters Secondary School.
Huddleston asked the leader of the then Johannesburg “Native” Municipal Brass Band, Uncle Sauda, to teach Masekela the rudiments of trumpet playing. Masekela quickly mastered the instrument. Soon, some of Masekela’s schoolmates also became interested in playing instruments, leading to the formation of the Huddleston Jazz Band, South Africa’s very first youth orchestra. By 1956, after leading other ensembles, Masekela joined Alfred Herbert’s African Jazz Revue.
Since 1954, Masekela played music that closely reflected his life experience. The agony, conflict, and exploitation South Africa faced during 1950’s and 1960’s, inspired and influenced him to make music. He was an artist who in his music vividly portrayed the struggles and sorrows, as well as the joys and passions of his country. His music protested about apartheid, slavery, government; the hardships individuals were living. Masekela reached a large population of people that also felt oppressed due to the country situation.
Following a Manhattan Brothers tour of South Africa in 1958, Masekela wound up in the orchestra for the musical King Kong, written by Todd Matshikiza. King Kong was South Africa’s first blockbuster theatrical success, touring the country for a sold-out year with Miriam Makeba and the Manhattan Brothers’ Nathan Mdledle in the lead. The musical later went to London’s West End for two years. [ READ MORE ] [ More Music By HUGH MASEKELA ]
OBAMA UBARIKIWE [Translation: Obama God Bless You]
From kilimanjaroh — Samba Mapangala, the Kenyan artist who brought you Vunja Mifupa, now brings you OBAMA UBARIKIWE (Obama be blessed). The song is in praise of Barack Obama and wishes him success. It features Minneapolis-based 14-year old rapper, Fanaka Ndege. The song is in English and Swahili.
Samba Mapangala was born in Matadi, in the region known as Bas-Congo. In the early 1970s he moved to Kinshasha for secondary education.
His vocal talents were recognized early and he worked in various Kinshasa bands like Bariza, Super Tukina, Super Bella Bella, and Saka Saka. Samba travelled east with other musicians in 1975. In Kampala, Uganda in 1976, they made their mark as Les Kinois (The Kinshasans).
With Samba as lead singer, Les Kinois relocated to Nairobi, Kenya in 1977 and took the music scene by storm.
Samba formed his own band, the legendary Orchestra Virunga, in 1981. Virunga, named after a volcanic mountain range in central Africa, proved to be one of East Africa’s most popular groups, Their music is an innovative mix of the best rumba and soukous from Congo, with the earthier Kenyan style.
Samba Mapangala in concert – Santa Monica, CA
Samba composes and sings in both Lingala and Kiswahili. His astounding voice has been described as melting in the ears. Virunga as a whole also get high praise; “The telepathy that runs between the bass, drums and rhythmic guitar players of this outfit is jaw-dropping…” (Ian Anderson, Folk Roots).
Virunga’s first recording was the LP It’s Disco Time with Samba Mapangala (1982). Samba Mapangala and Virunga went to UK in April 1991 and performed 23 concerts, not surprisingly causing a terrific buzz. After celebrated journeys through Africa, Europe and North America, Virunga last toured in 1997. Samba then settled with his family in Washington D.C. Samba Mapangala made a triumphant return with his CD Ujumbe (The Message).
Samba’s albums to date include Virunga Volcano (1990), Evasion (1983), Feet on Fire (1991), Karibu Kenya (1995) recorded in Paris with Les Quatres Etoiles and other veteran musicians, Vunja Mifupa (1997) released on cassette in East Africa as Confusion and in 2001, Ujumbe. Virunga Roots Volume 1, featuring songs from the Orchestra Virunga archive, was released in 2005.
In 2000 Samba’s presence at the Kenyan Jamhuri celebrations in London was one of the major highlights. His music is timeless, sounding as fresh after the 100th hearing it as it did the 1st. The lyrics, often containing advice or social commentary, are charming and interesting, the melodies delightful, energetic and exuberant.
In May 2004 Samba went on a 2-week concert tour in Tanzania after a 7-year absence. He performed with an all-star lineup of musicians based in Kenya and Tanzania.
Samba’s latest album is Song and Dance (2006) on virungarecords featuring Bopol and other great members of Orchestra Virunga. They promoted the album and other great hits during a UK tour in March 2006.
To get an impression of the energy of the band on stage, click on the link to view the Photoshow. Samba was in Kenya for a major event, Ecofest, on 4th June 2006 alongside other well-known Kenyan musicians.
Two sisters from California make their trek across America in a Volvo covered with Obama stickers
….and Bill T. Jones honors the late Nigerian musician Fela Kuti
Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick. More about Fela Kuti
