I would like to announce a new addition to our forum: the Old School Music board. It will focus on discussions about earlier periods of Congolese music.
I have noticed comments in the past about that we don't have a dedicated board like this. As a new comment like that appeared again, I decided to agree with DJ Sly and create this board. We intend to make it a place for old music enthusiasts.
Anything you would like to discuss from that era can be posted there, especially if you want to keep your ideas or questions in view longer than in the main discussion board. Early Zaiko stuff, Nico Kassanda, Franco Luambo and other early formations... feel free to discuss about them there with others of the same interest. Of course, if you feel your question would receive bigger attention in the main board, don't hesitate to ask it there instead. Posting in the new board about the mentioned subjects is not an obligation but rather an option.
They are stupid to stay in Angola, because there is nothing in Angola now since the oil-crisis and the life in Luanda is also very expensive.
Maybe still better in Angola than in Congo. At least there is more cash circulating around there in the big business, better chance to look for patronage.
Compared to what the situation was 6-7 years ago, there are very few shops remaining online selling a wide selection of Congolese titles, especially older releases. Villageafro was one shop like that, serving the needs of fans through years until they closed down sometime around summer this year. Good news to the lovers of the genre: they rebranded their store, and came back online with a new site not very long ago. I have already tested them, and I received what I ordered, the price of a CD that turned out not to be in stock was refunded automatically on the shipment of the rest.
Atalakus are not successful on solo because they are not doing what they can: animating. They should produce sebene only songs including themselves on animation, similar to Kanda Bongo Man's Iyole or Dyna. A good example for such an atalaku album is Soule Ngofo Man's Le Maillon Fort. Or any album by Dany Engobo, he mostly make sebens with little singing and much animation. If atalakus would produce such albums, they would be more in the front.
So heartwarming to see him again. This man and the likes of Kanda Bonga Man will always be the Grand Masters of Congolese Music. Hits after hits and now Classics after classics. That is Djuny Claude next to right?
Unfortunately I don't know that Wenge MM song, I am not very educated about their songs. But it is rare indeed to find swahili songs released by top Congolese bands recently. I think earlier it was more common because Katanga was a very well developed territory. Many recordings from the fifties and sixties from Congo include artist from the copperbelt singing swahili and Zambian languages. I think back then it was not that obvious that Kinshasa is the centre of modern music. But who knows, I am just guessing. What I miss is that Katangan guitar style was unique, it is a pity it has somehow lost importance.
Possibly because by now Cogolese music became Kinshasa dominated. Earlier there were artists in Lumumbashi singing in local languages (I guess it is Swahili), like Mwenda Jean Bosco. Apart from him I don't know anyone who sang in this language and was famous in Congo.
My friend from Congo said that most Congolese musicians and bands are the "students" of the African Fiesta branch. Also read in a book that OK Jazz did not have real followers and their style got into a dead end. If these things are really true, then in long term African Fiesta had more impact on Congolese music. But on the other hand, Franco is often considered the most famous Congolese musician. So it depends. Personally, I know musicians who praise Franco. I'd rather say however, that Zaiko and Manuaku had much more impact on the Congolese music we listen to knowdays than those two. The new wave of Congolese music originates from them more than from Tabu Ley or Franco.
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