Jabulani Library

Biography of the "FATHER OF CONGOLESE MUSIC"

September 03, 2024 - 04:34 PM Kabasele, Joseph "Le Grand Kalle" (Kabasele Tshamala), celebrated Congolese singer and band leader; born Matadi, Congo-Kinshasa, Dec. 16, 1930; died Kinshasa, Feb. 11, 1983.Kabasele was born to a prominent Congolese family that included Joseph Malula, who rose to become a cardinal in the Catholic church. As one of the period's better-educated Congolese—he completed secondary school—Kabasele gained employment as a typist at a succession of commercial firms in colonial Léopoldville (Kinshasa). Music was his true calling, however, and he found an opportunity to pursue it around 1950 at a new recording studio called Opika. There he joined the aggregation of session musicians......

Biography of Sam Mangwana.

August 28, 2024 - 09:16 PM Biography of Sam Mangwana. Superb Congolese singer and songwriter; was born on 21 February 1945 in then Leopoldville, now Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the largest city in that country. His father was a native of Zimbabwe and Sam's mother was a native of neighboring Angola. Mangwana made his professional debut in 1963 with a brief turn at the mic behind Tabu Ley Rochereauin the Congo-Kinshasa rumba band African Fiesta. Almost immediately the wanderlust that would mark his career and earn him the epithet "pigeon voyageur" began to surface. He crossed the Congo River to Brazzaville where he formed a short-lived group called Los Batchichas and worked with......

Morris "Moreno" Batamba Wenda

August 26, 2024 - 11:06 AM Morris "Moreno" Batamba Wenda, best known for his deep bass voice, was born in Kisangani, Zaire, Congo, in 1955. He quit school in 1971 to join Orchestre Maquis Sasa Bata. He moved to Uganda in 1974 and joined Orchestra Bana Moja of singer Jojo Ikomo. He later moved to Nairobi and the group was renamed Bana Ngenge, the name depended on who was in charge of the group. The group broke up in 1975 and Moreno & Jojo joined Les Noirs. Sadly, Moreno died young too young, in 1993 in Nairobi at just 38 years old, just as he was on the rise to stardom, with an album riding high in the Kenyan charts and a solid fan base throughout East Africa who appreciated his sultry, silky-smooth, bass......

Powerful Man Who Jailed Franco

August 23, 2024 - 03:25 PM STORY OF A POWERFUL MAN WHO BRUSHED SHOULDERS WITH FRANCO Franco's longest stint in prison was not because of a political song. It happened in 1978 when Franco released two songs on Cassette. The two songs Helene and Jacky were deemed shocking and immoral. He was summoned by the then Attorney General Kengo wa Dondo to explain himself. Franco defended himself vigorously suggesting that there was nothing immoral about the songs. They then summoned his mother Mbonga Makiesse to determine if the songs were immoral. Franco is said to have pleaded with them not to involve his mother. Mama Makiesse listened to the songs and reacted in shock. Franco was sentenced to 6 months. Ten of his musicians,......

Mokolo Nakokufa by Tabuley Rochereau Lyrics With English Translation.

August 22, 2024 - 07:55 AM MOKOLO NAKOKUFA (THE DAY I WILL DIE) BY TABULEY ROCHEREAU Mokolo mosusu nga nakanisinaloti lokola ngai nakolalaaaaaah mamaaaah mokolo nakokufa Aaah (Another day when I was thinking about how things will be the day I will die (will be gone)I dreamt (imagined) how I was lying deadaaaaah mama aaah, the day I will die) Instrumentals Mokolo na kokufa nani akolela ngai,na koyeba teee ooh nani namilela aaahliwa ya nzamba soki mpe liwa yambokaliwa ya mbaki soki mpe liwa ya mayi oooohmamaaaaah, mokolo na kokufa (The day I will die who will cry (weep) for meI don't know who will......

Kimpa Kisangameni by Franco Luambo - Lyrics (English Translation)

August 20, 2024 - 01:57 AM KIMPA KISANGAMENI BY FRANCO MAKIADI Uluoanga mau mame eeh!(These issues that you usually talk about)Kimpa kisangameni mama kuna zulu eeh,(has prominently to reveal itself up their mother)kindoki kisangameni mama kuna zulu eeh!(the witchcraft has prominently revealed itself up their mother) Mbisi zi mpipa luta teka hein ! , hehehehein?(You are selling fish at night hey!)Malafu ma mpipa luta teka hein !, hehehehein?(You claim to sell beer at night)Mimpuka mi mpipa luta teka hein !, hehehehein?(You claim to sell flour at night)Suni mi bantu luta mina hein!, hehehehein?(yet you swallow people's flesh)Makasu ma mpipa luta caba hein !, hehehehein?(You claim to sell cola nuts at......

Biography of Longomba, "Vicky" (Longomba Besange Lokuli, Victor)

August 18, 2024 - 06:25 AM Biography of Longomba, "Vicky" (Longomba Besange Lokuli, Victor) Outstanding Congolese singer and band leader, Vicky was born in Kinshasa on December 13, 1932, and passed away in Kinshasa on March 12, 1988. Vicky began his career in 1953 at the CEFA recording studio in colonial Léopoldville (now Kinshasa). Singing tenor, often in combination with other studio singers Roger Izeidi and François Engbondu as Les Trois Caballeros, Vicky recorded songs in the emerging Congolese rumba style. Among his early recordings were "Chérie Awa" (Darling Awa) and "Congo ya Sika" (New Congo). As CEFA verged on bankruptcy in 1955, Vicky moved to the Loningisa studio. There, in 1956, he......

Remembering Tony Msalame: A Pioneer of Kenyan Radio Entertainment

August 17, 2024 - 10:03 PM The late Tony Msalame was an authentic entertainer, both in radio studios and on the TV show Tushauriane. Many Kenyans of a certain age will remember Tony as the signature voice of the early days of Metro FM radio at KBC. Teaming up with younger DJs like Lucy Nduta, Angela Obino, Anne Lamayan, and Kenyan-Congolese Dr. Harry Kabecha, African music, including Lingala and Benga, flourished at Metro FM. Tony was an accomplished broadcaster, effortlessly acting on TV and presenting shows like Jazz Hour on radio and Rhythm and Blues with Fayaz Qureishi. His show, Zum Zum Kipindi cha Kuongeza Maarifa, which he co-hosted with Kenyan-Tanzanian Tido Mhando, was in a league of its own. On Sunday......

Biography of Quatre Etoiles (Four Stars)

August 16, 2024 - 04:22 AM Biography of Quatre Etoiles (Four Stars).Congolese rumba band, formed 1982. Bopol Mansiamina (born Kinshasa, June 27, 1949; bass, guitar), Syran M'Benza (born Kinshasa, May 31, 1950; guitar), Nyboma Mwan Dido (born Nyoki, Congo-Kinshasa, Dec. 24, 1952; vocal), Wuta Mayi (born Kinshasa, Aug. 3, 1949; vocal).The Quatre Etoiles came together in Paris in 1982 under the auspices of producer Ouattara Moumouni. Bopol and Syran had been working off and on in Paris ever since the African All Starssplit up in 1979. At their urging, former Bella Bellasinger Nyboma left Togo, where he had been working with other remnants of the All Stars, and moved to Paris at the beginning of 1982. The trio became a......

Lingala Moment

August 14, 2024 - 02:50 PM LINGALA MOMENT 1. Come to the house – yaka na ndako.2. If I see another person – soki namoni moto mosusu.3. You forgot the way you used to follow me – Obosanaki ndenge olandaki ngai.4. I came but I did not find you – nayaki kasi nakutaki yo te.5. Have you found the happiness you were looking for? – Ozuwi bisengo olukaki?6. Have you read this book? – Otangi buuku oyo?7. This is my husband, the father of my children – Oyo azali mobali nangai, tata ya bana nangai.8. Where are you from? – Owuti wapi?9. That house had no window – ndako wana ezalaki na lininisa te10. We are here to learn the Lingala language – Tozali awa koyekola......

Jabulani Library

Biography of the "FATHER OF CONGOLESE MUSIC"

Biography of Sam Mangwana.

Morris "Moreno" Batamba Wenda

Powerful Man Who Jailed Franco

Mokolo Nakokufa by Tabuley Rochereau Lyrics With English Translation.

Kimpa Kisangameni by Franco Luambo - Lyrics (English Translation)

Biography of Longomba, "Vicky" (Longomba Besange Lokuli, Victor)

Remembering Tony Msalame: A Pioneer of Kenyan Radio Entertainment

Biography of Quatre Etoiles (Four Stars)

Lingala Moment

News

Jabulani Library (230)

Jabulani Swahili (8)

Rumba Chronicles (24)

Programs

Weekend Rhumba Twilight Mix

Weekend Soukous Odyssey

Benga Blast

Rhumba Revival

Weekend Zilizopendwa Mix

Weekend Rhumba Mix

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Legend Franco Luambo Makaidi

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Jabulani Library

Biography of the "FATHER OF CONGOLESE MUSIC"

Biography of Sam Mangwana.

Morris "Moreno" Batamba Wenda

Powerful Man Who Jailed Franco

Mokolo Nakokufa by Tabuley Rochereau Lyrics With English Translation.

Kimpa Kisangameni by Franco Luambo - Lyrics (English Translation)

Biography of Longomba, "Vicky" (Longomba Besange Lokuli, Victor)

Remembering Tony Msalame: A Pioneer of Kenyan Radio Entertainment

Biography of Quatre Etoiles (Four Stars)

Lingala Moment

News

Jabulani Library (230)

Jabulani Swahili (8)

Rumba Chronicles (24)

Programs

Weekend Rhumba Twilight Mix

Weekend Soukous Odyssey

Benga Blast

Rhumba Revival

Weekend Zilizopendwa Mix

Weekend Rhumba Mix

Latest podcasts

Legend Franco Luambo Makaidi

Find us on

Contact us

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