Author Topic: Vieux Zorino talking about Papa Wemba, Gina Efonge, Mavuela, Evoloko, etc.  (Read 694 times)

Mfumu Vata on: August 22, 2023, 16:01

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Mfumu Vata #1 on: August 23, 2023, 00:59

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The interview of Vieux Zorino with Mbuta Likasu was very interesting.

He explained that he was first very close to Gina Efonge, even when he became ill and during Gina's illness becoming close to late Mavuela Somo, since that he was living in Selemabo and Zorino in Bandalungwa, who are areas that are close to each other. It created jealousy within Zaiko because of Mavuela then getting fancy clothes and some money from Zorino.

He also said that when Zaiko went to Brazzaville, he wasn't able to go because of his job. Aparently during the trip to Zaiko, the Isifi-guys (Gina Efonge, Evoloko, Wemba and Mavuela) along with people of their staff went to get magic/surnatural powers to become even more powerful. Then when coming back to Kinshasa, Evoloko's friend Ifoleya passed away after losing his head. He was found death in the forest. After Ifoleya's death, Gina Efonge immediatly lost his head. This made Evoloko being afraid to sleep at his house for a moment and always going out in the night. Rumors then being spread that he was never able to sleep at night and also stories that everybody known about killing a witchdoctor  (the famous story that everybody know, is that the witchdoctor asked to sacrifice his dad by getting his footprint, but Evoloko getting the footprint of the witchdoctor himself who apparently cursed).

Mbuta Likasu then, didn't believe what Zorino was saying. But Zorino then replying that it was Mavuela himself who snitched everybody to him, explaining what they did in Brazzaville. But although snitching, Mavuela himself also being part of it, because the others also snitching each other about Brazzaville.

There was a point where Zorino explained that Gina Efonge was still going to Zaiko's concert despite his illness, getting his clothes in Bandal. Even if he would not sing, he would still be present and sit in the public. But it's only when Bozi Boziana got recruited that he realised that he hadn't his place anymore in Zaiko.

Later on, Zorino also added that he was the only guy that helped Gina Efonge during his illness. Because all his friends of Zaiko abandoned him, when he lost his head. He brought Gina to the region of where the Basakata-tribe (province of Mayi Ndombe), after hearing that its there were they made people having that illness recover. After recovering and spending time in that region, they went back to Kinshasa and Gina later left to go to Mbandaka.

Zorino talked also about the way Nyoka Longo got discriminated by the Isifi/Le Quatro clan for being Angolan. Gina saying that Nyoka Longo could not be part of them because of being Muzombo (Angolan). Nyoka Longo in that period just singing 1 or 2 songs during concerts and Gina Efonge often taking his mic away on a rude way, not wanting to see him sing. Zorino adding that they forced Papa Wemba to end his friendship with Nyoka Longo, Gina & Evoloko saying to Wemba that he couldn't be friends with Nyoka Longo because of him being Muzombo. There's also a part where Zorino said that Gina Efonge and Evoloko would treat Bimi Ombale bad, saying that he had to stop singing and go back drumming, since that he started in Zaiko as a drummer. (Btw Papa Wemba would say the same thing during the preparations of Zaiko's 18th birthday in 1987, which frustrated Bimi).

In the interview, Zorino said that Gina Efonge and Evoloko had a bad behaviour of not saluting people and being very arrogant.. Evoloko used to chase people away who were ringing on his doorbell, even journalists and that he would refuse to let friends of his friends in his car.

When coming to Zaiko's separation in 1974 that led to the creation of Isifi Lokole, Zorino said that Evoloko and co weren't happy the way Pepe Felly Manuaku was saving their money. Evokolo was claiming that Manuaku was stealing their money and that he didn't had the right to do it, because of being Muzombo (Angolan). It went even that far with Evokoko going to their house and insulting him, getting Manuaku's guitar to beat his Manuaku's father with it. He called Manuaku a "faux guitarist" forgetting that he made the arrangement/sebene of his hitsongs Eluzam and Mbeya-Mbeya. Evoloko then saying that Manuaku was fired, Manuaku then saying that Evoloko himself was fired and them being the guys that would leave Zaiko. (If I remember well, it was that that led to Evoloko being suspended, himself leaving and Bozi, Mavuela and Wemba joining him out of solidarity, going to Manuaku house to cut the recordings they made and bring it to Isifi. Songs like Amazone, 2x2x2, etc.)

Zorino said that after that incident, Evoloko went back to Yolo, calling Mavuela, Bozi and Wemba and saying that it was time to start their own band (ISIFI Lokole). But when being in Isifi Lokole, Evoloko himself stealing money of the band after concerts to go partying. This created unhappiness within the band. The guys decided to fire Evoloko, but Evoloko replying that he fired them and Isifi being his name. Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo and Bozi Boziana then decided to form Yoka Lokole. Evoloko being left on his own changing Isifi Lokole into Isifi Melodia, recruiting guys like Djuna Djanana, Lifelo Moto-Moto, etc. Zorino also talked shortly about late Vadio Mambenga who used to be part of Isifi Lokole, but just singing behind the speakers because of being disabled.

Towards the end Mbuta Likasu asked why he Zorino wasn't close anymore to his friends of Zaiko. Zorino then saying that he was afraid for them, because of doing witchcraft and thinking that they may sacrifice him one day. Mbuta Likasu having doubts about it, Zorino then giving the example about the way after rehearsing, Yoka Lokole went to the cemetary of Kintambo to channel spirits and doing incantations for their first official concert which took place at bar Type-K. Papa Wemba then refusing him to go with them, saying that he would betray them.  Type-K was the following day being full of people and Zorino thinking that there were also some that passed away being there.

In the same interview he claims that he was the person gave Wemba the idea to Viva la Musica, Mbuta replying that everybody give late Pecho wa Ngongo the credit of it. But Zorino insisting and explained that the guys close to Wemba coming from Matonge, not wanting him to be around Wemba, because of coming from Binza (people from Binza were close to Mavuela & Mbuta Mashakado who fired Wemba from Yoka Lokole). Also adding that he couldn't leave Mavuela like that, since that they were good friends and from the Quatro-guys, Mavuela being the only person who was giving him good money. This  made him stay with him until he left to live in Gabon, where he got married with president Omar Bongo's niece and played in a Gabonese band before settling in Antwerp (Belgium).

 

 


« Last Edit: August 23, 2023, 03:09 by Mfumu Vata »