Jabulani Library

DO MUSICIANS DIE YOUNG? NOT JEANNOT BOMBENGA

August 05, 2025 - 07:07 PM At 91 years of age, Jeannot Bombenga is easily one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of the living Congolese musicians. With some superstars of the genre having died young, like Bavon Marie Marie, Franco’s younger sibling, who starred with Negro Success and died at 26, or Mbaraka of Super Volcano, who died at 35, a misconception that musicians die young has become a subject of much discourse themed on Congolese rumba. A photo of Jeannot with Sam Mangwana, posted on Facebook by an enthusiast of Congolese rumba, Herman Bangi, rekindled memories of their days at Vox Africa, a band Jeannot formed with Franklin Boukaka in 1959. It was noteworthy that even Mangwana himself, at 80, has......

MUZINA LYRICS WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION - TABU LEY ROCHEREAU & AFRISA INTRNATIONAL

August 01, 2025 - 05:00 PM Tabu Ley Rochereau & Afrisa International Muzina Lyrics With English Translation. MuzinaMuzina di TataE di MwanaE di Mpeve SantuMuzina ndi Tata NzambeMuzina In the name ofIn the name of the FatherAnd the SonAnd the Holy SpiritIn the name of God the FatherIn the name of... Babotama bazalaBakufa balamuka basekwa Everyone born, everyone livingEveryone passed, everyone awakened, everyone resurrected Kasi kombo ya Nzambe ezali ya makasiBoboto ya Yawhe na nkembo But God’s name is strongJehovah’s forgiveness shines brightly MuzinaMuzina di TataE di MwanaE di Mpeve SantuMuzina ndi Tata NzambeMuzina In the name ofIn the name of the FatherAnd the SonAnd the Holy SpiritIn the......

KANDA BONGOMAN’S FOOTPRINTS IN NAIROBI

August 01, 2025 - 04:43 AM During the requiem mass for the late veteran news anchor Catherine Kasavuli, murmurs surfaced that her son, Martin Kasavuli, was a doppelgänger of former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi. This rekindled the tabloid fantasy of the early 1990s, which suggested the TV journalist had an intimate relationship with former President Moi. The genesis of this rumor can be traced to an April 1990 episode when Congolese musician Kanda Bongo Man was unceremoniously ejected from the country via a cargo plane. Kanda had been on a sojourn in Kenya's capital, where he held electrifying concerts at KICC, Nyayo Stadium, among other venues. However, just as the stage was set for a concert at the Stanley......

THE KENYAN SOUKOUS GUITARIST - (ROLAND ISESE)

July 29, 2025 - 07:57 PM The year was 1991, and the venue was Bomas of Kenya. It was during the peak of the Soukous craze, and the crowd had gathered to enjoy the best of the Aurlus Mabele-led group Loketo, which featured the lethal soloist Diblo Dibala, partly nicknamed "The Machine Gun" owing to his high-tempo guitar skills. But it was a local boy, Roland Isese, who stole the show. He had taken the stage with the Ulinzi Band, a military ensemble under the leadership of Laban Ochuka, which had been tasked with opening the concert. The band made a bold attempt at the hit song "Extra Ball," and Isese was impressed. His fingers maneuvered the fretboard with the speed of a bullet and the precision of a surgeon. He......

PESA POSITION ENGLISH LYRICS - MADILU SYSTEM

July 22, 2025 - 08:00 AM One of Madilu's biggest hit on which Franco played was Pesa Position. In fact, there were only two, the other was Boma Ngai, Ngai Na Boma Yo To Bomana. Here we are not not talking about Franco's compositions on which Madilu did some singing, such as Mario, Non!, Tu Vois? (aka Mamou), Makambo Ezali Bourreau, but I am talking about songs composed by Madilu on which Franco played the guitar. These were only two. In ten years. Today we give exclusive lyrics of Madilu System Pesa Position Lyrics in English:1) Love has overpowered me, Angela.It has caused me to become ill.I’ve been in many relationship,But this one is a special case.I let you control......

ANOTHER BENGA SUPERSTAR FROM THE MOUNTAIN

July 21, 2025 - 10:40 PM While Franco served a six-month jail term in Makala Prison in Kinshasa for composing two songs, "Jackie" and "Heleni," considered explicit and lurid, an almost similar occurrence was happening simultaneously in Nairobi. Musician Daniel Kamau Mwai, popularly known as DK, was facing charges in court for composing two songs, "Nana" and "Mwithua," both of whose lyrics had been censored as graphic. Luckily for DK, he was never convicted and was instead acquitted of the charges. He had been in the music scene for almost a decade and was already a household name, having created a band that went on to record some of the most popular songs of the era. In a classic case of adopting, repackaging,......

WHAT IF FRANCO LUAMBO WAS ALIVE?

July 14, 2025 - 10:41 PM Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi, the brightest star in the constellation that is Congolese music, was born on July 6, 1938. Were he alive today, he would be celebrating his 87th birthday. One cannot help but wonder—had death not stolen this immense talent from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the land of musical gods, where would he be today? Eighty-seven years is a long time. Most likely, he would have long retired. That’s a whole 27 years past the official retirement age in Kenya and many other countries. It is generally accepted that by age 60, age has taken its toll, and most people are well beyond their peak productivity. However, in music, some players stay in the game much......

OLIVER MTUKUDZI - NERIA LYRICS (WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

July 07, 2025 - 08:16 PM [Intro]Neria, Neria, woo!Neria, Neria, oh!Usaore moyo ka Neria, Mwari aneweDon’t let your heart be troubled, Neria, God is with youUsaore moyo ka Neria, Mwari aneweDon’t let your heart be troubled, Neria, God is with youMwari anewe ka Neria, Mwari aneweGod is with you, Neria, God is with you [Verse 1]Kufirwa nemurume hanzvadzi, zvinoda moyo wekushingaLosing a husband, sister, requires a heart of courageUsaore moyo ka Neria, Mwari aneweDon’t let your heart be troubled, Neria, God is with youUsaore moyo ka Neria, Mwari aneweDon’t let your heart be troubled, Neria, God is with youMwari anewe ka Neria, Mwari aneweGod is with you, Neria, God is with you [Verse 2]Neria,......

JANE THE BENGA QUEEN

July 01, 2025 - 08:10 PM Very few women have dared to challenge the male dominance of Central Kenya's vibrant music industry and achieve the level of success that Queen Jane did. Many others who take up the challenge rarely rise beyond the roles of dancers and backup vocalists, as the terrain is treacherous for women and seemingly structured to favor men. Performing in clubs all night, being away from family, and battling the stigma that often portrays musicians as vagabonds are just some of the challenges that have bogged down many aspiring female musicians. But Queen Jane defied the odds. She not only navigated these hurdles but also rose to the apex as one of the region's and the country's top musicians. Her......

SUNSET COMES FOR JOSEPH JUST OF LES WANYIKA

June 22, 2025 - 05:00 PM "Joseph Just was not just a percussionist with the Wanyika bands but a great vocalist as well," reminisces Abbu Omar, his former colleague at Simba Wanyika and Les Wanyika, while mourning the Tanzanian musician who made a name in Kenya, featuring for several bands over several decades. Joseph Just, also known as Muzungu due to his light skin complexion, died on June 20, 2025, at the KCMC Hospital in Himo Town, Moshi Municipality, Tanzania, after battling a heart ailment for a couple of years, according to his wife, a Kenyan from Kakamega. He had since retired from music. He left Kenya to settle in his hometown during the COVID-19 period and operated an M-PESA shop there. Joseph Just was......