THE MAGIC IN NYBOMA'S VOCALS

In a tète-à-tète with one top Congolese musician who has worked with almost all the genre's big bands, he confided to Jabulani that Nyboma was the greatest singer DRC ever had.

The musician who had wished to remain anonymous opened up that Nyboma's smooth high tenor is ranked top notched in the industry and thus the explanation there was a scramble for him in the early 1970s, with everyone salivating for a bit of the singing sensation.

To buttress his point, the said musician threw in two songs, Kamale which Nyboma did with Orchestra Lipua Lipua, and Ayi Djo which he did with Orchestra Kamale.

Indeed, Nyboma's singing prowess in the two songs is very exceptional. To buttress this point, not long ago, in an online forum known as Friends of TPOK Jazz, one member had asked every participant to mention their favorite musicians.

After more than 24 hours, with thousands of responses given Nyboma was evidently one of the most mentioned.

Although there is no gauge or meter that can scientifically prove beyond any reasonable doubt who is/was the greatest, leaving the topic to an issue of taste and preferences, many pundits attest to him being one of the best.

Among others mentioned in such conversations are Grand Kalle, aka Joseph Kabasele Tshamalla of African Jazz, Sam Mangwana who sang with several bands, Josky Kiambukuta of OKJ, Chantal Kazadi of African Fiesta Sukisa, Tabuley of African Fiesta Sukisa, Kosmos Moutouari, Theo Blaise Kounkou, and others.

Nyboma Mwandido, who will be celebrating his 72nd birthday on 24th December 2024, was born in Nioki, the river town described by Ndombe Opetum as 'Mboka Mabaya' (the town for timber ie forest) in the song Voyage na Bandundu, in which he described his (Ndombe Opetum's) literal boat journey from Kinshasa to his home town of Bandundu and his metaphorical journey from Afrisa to OKJ.

Nioki which was Opetum's birthplace as well, is located some 200 km North East of Kinshasa, along the River Congo. It is at Nioki that Nyboma began his music career as a staunch member of the local church choir. 

Aged 16 in the late 1960, Nyboma debuted on the big stage appearing for Orchestra Baby in a sojourn that hated as a conveyor belt to more glory when he landed at Negro success of Bavon and Bholen in 1969. 

However, it is at Maison Veve, Verckys Kiamuangana's studios that his fame was catapulted to international stardom, beginning with Orchestra ya Bella Bella the phenomenal band of Congo in the 1970s that was led by the Soki siblings, Dianzenza and Maxim.

Bella Bella gave birth to Lipua Lipua with which Nyboma did the song Kamale, which won him the singer of the year in the country, in 1974. Lipua Lipua later had a splinter that birthed a new kid of the block, Orchestra Kamale, with which Nyboma stamped his authority as one of the finest singers, in DRC. 

Note that Lipua Lipua got its name from a song by the same title that musicians had done while members of Bella Bella, in a similar manner to Nyboma named his band Orchestra Kamale from a song he had done by the same title when he was a member of Lipua Lipua. Even when Kamale had a splinter, with Mulembu, Tshimanga Assosa, and Kimzunga Ricos going their way, they named their band Fuka Fuka, from a song they had done while at Kamale.

It is upon the departure of mercurial soloist Kizungu Ricos, that Nyboma recruited Dally Kimoko, who was to become a god of the guitar in the country, especially in the Soukouss era. 

Nyboma has also been a member of Les Quatre Etoile, the four stars that also featured Bopol Mansiamina, Syran Mbenza, and Wuta Mayi. He has also sung with the star-studded African All-Stars and featured in songs like the ever-popular Saila by Dizzy Mandjeku.

In the 1980s, he joined his former band members at Bella Bella, Pepe Kalle for some recordings. He has collaborated with Tabuley, Madilu, and many others. He was also part of the veterans band, Kekele Transcontinental.

Nyboma's voice undoubtedly occupies a special place in the hearts of many music lovers across the continent.

By Jarome Ogola

Jabulani Radio Livestream

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