Meiway (Frederic Desire Ehui) a.k.a “Monsieur Zoblazo” or the “Genius of Bassam”; was born on March 17th, 1962 in Grand-Bassam, a coastal town west of Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast. His signature music style is “Zoblazo,” a catchy rhythm from southern Ivory Coast. Read the full story

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African villagers performing their own version of James Brown’s hit: “Sex Machine.” — What a pleasant surprise!

The set — probably, a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), judging by the language(s) used in the Singing: Kiswahili, Lingala [A "Lingua Franca" in the DRC], and of course “mangled” English.

James Brown’s influence stretches far and wide — He has been described as: “The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business,” “Soul Brother Number One,” “the Godfather of Soul,” and “the Minister of New New Super Heavy Funk.” James Maycock of PBS says:

“James Brown is unquestionably one of the most charismatic musical icons of the 20th century. An irrepressible performer, ruthless but highly proficient bandleader, awesome dancer, and, unquestionably, the man who flipped soul music on its head to create funk, Brown became a huge black cultural symbol in the 1960s and ’70s. He’s certainly altered the course of black popular music more than once, with his innovations flowing into the careers of Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Public Enemy, Prince, and a multitude of others — including my humble brothers performing in the video below.

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Part of the chorus — “Nakupenda Sana Bibi Yangu,” translates from Kiswahili to English as: “I love you so much my ‘wife’,” where “Bibi” is Kiswahili for Wife. In a traditional African setting, Bibi can also mean girlfriend, and/or “concubine.”

The Congolese are a “musical people” — music readily flows in their veins the same way — “long-distance running” flows in the veins of the Kenyan and Ethiopian people of East Africa.

Kinshasa, DRC Congo’s capital, has been one of the great centers of musical innovation in Africa, producing crop after crop of excellent soloists and harmonists.

Despite constant turmoil and debilitating poverty in the DRC, the Congolese have never wavered musically. Their enthusiasm is steady and unfaltering.

To me, they are the “finest of best” musicians in black Africa.

Here is the original “Sex Machine” — Performed “live” by the “Godfather of Soul” — James Brown

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BONUS - “Sina Makosa” Performed by “Les Wanyika” — An East African “Kiswahili Rumba” Classic

Related Post(s):

1. Luciano Pavaroti & James Brown in Concert
2. Awilo Longomba - Performing Hit: ‘Karolina’
3. Spotlight on Franco - One of Africa’s Best, Ever!
4. Roots of Congolese Rumba Music
5. AfricaSounds.com — contains excellent coverage of Congolese music — Congo Kinshasa Updates - By Martin Sinnock.

6. VIEW ALL BLOG POSTS

Popularity: 54% [?]

The late Franco [a.k.a L'Okanga La Ndju Pene Luambo Luanzo Makiadi] and his T.P. OK Jazz is arguable the best musician Black Africa has ever produced. Some have called him “The James Brown of Africa,” the “Godfather of Soul.”

Performing in French, Lingala, Kiswahili and other native Congolese languages, Franco was a master of Rumba [African Rumba], a style of music that originated in Congo, and evolved into Soukous music

Franco accentuated the “Afro-Latin” beat — a complex mixture of Cuban sons, boleros and Congolese folk music.

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Sadly, Congolese maestro, the “sorcerer of the Guitar,” the “Grand Maître of Zairean Music,” Luambo Luanzo Makiadi, died in a hospital in Brussels, Belgium, in 1989 at the age of 51. Just before his death, he recorded his AIDS-consciousness anthem “Attention Na SIDA” [Beware of AIDS]. Although never officially mentioned [taboo], Franco’s death was HIV related.

Africa lost a “Music Goliath.”

Many, if not ALL modern Congolese musicians from Music rich Zaire [Now DRC -- Democratic Republic of Congo] owe their success to L’Okanga La Ndju Pene Luambo Luanzo Makiadi.

Among Franco’s proteges were Lutumba Simaro Massiya [a.k.a. Le Poet], for many years, his deputy band leader. Lutumba succeeded Franco after his death, but after quarrels with Franco’s family, quit to form Bana OK — together with fabulous Franco proteges like — Josky Kiambukuta, Ndombe Opetum, Malage de Lugendo and Ntessa Dalienst.

Below is Malage de Lugendo performing one of Franco’s classics - “Infidelite Mado,” With Shiko Mawatu doing a very “credible imitation” of Franco’s guitar work - at a recent performance by the band “Soukous Stars,” in New Jersey [USA].

Many have tried to emulate Franco’s style, but none will ever do it quite like him, instead African Rumba has evolved into “Soukous” and “Techno-Soukous,” which are more up-tempo. Here is Techo-Soukous star, Awilo Longomba performing his hit — Karolina.

=> BookMarkAfrica.com — Community Powered Content - African News & Stories => AfricanMusicForum.com — Music & Musicians From Africa

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The “King of Opera” and the “Godfather of Soul” got together in Modena, Italy, on May 28 2002 for a charity concert, for Angolan Refugees.

Commonly referred to as “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” the late Brown was recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music.

May his soul rest in peace. | More on James Brown | More on Luciano Pavarotti |

Pavarotti & Brown Performing James’s — “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”
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Lyrics: It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World

This is a man’s world, this is a man’s world
But it wouldn’t be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl

He’s lost in the wilderness
He’s lost in bitterness

More James Brown Videos at YouTube.com

Popularity: 31% [?]