Tuesday, November 4, 2014

PEPE FELI MANUAKU ET LE GRAND ZAIKO WAWA///YA KALA NA OYA SIKA



Pepe Felly is also an original band member. Those who write up on Zaiko Langa Langa tend to only mention the names of those who sang upfront at one point or another. But Pepe Felly has been a vital part of Zaiko Langa Langa from the beginning and is responsible for changing Congolese music by introducing the Sebene to the song format. The sebene is a melody on two or four measurements, looped to express what the singer cannot express with words. It's the expression of the songs emotion through melody. This part of the song allows the music to connect even more with the audience. No, Pepe Felly was not a singer but as lead guitar soloist, he was definitely a star in the Zaiko Langa Langa line up just like Papa Wemba or Nyoka Longo.

Pepe Felly was born, Felix Pedro Manuaku in 1954 in Congo-Kin. The bio on his official website (which is in french) doesn't specify a city or village. He was born second in a family of 7 boys and 5 girls. As a child he attended The Academy of Beautiful Arts of Kinshasa. He began his career with Zaiko at the tender age of 15 in 1969. By 1973, at only 19 years old, Pepe Felly was named the best guitarist of the third generation of modern Congolese music by the Congolese press. In 1977 he played with Tabu Ley at Festac of Lagos, Nigera, recorded "Love Me Love Me" with reggae sensation, Jimmy Cliff and the French singer, Jacques Higelin. His guitar dominated Zaiko's sound until he left the group in 1980 at which time he formed Grand Zaiko Wawa. From '85 to '88 he toured with Grand Zaiko Wawa through Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Rawanda, Burundi, Niger, Switzerland, Belguim and France. (Zaiko Langa Langa has splintered into several spin off orchestras by this time. These 'splinters' will be covered over time...)
In 1989 Felly relocated to Switzerland where he took part in workshops of The Lausanne School of Jazz and giving lessons of guitar at Hello Jazz with American saxophonist Robin Kenyatta.
2005 found Pepe Felly meeting Narcisse Okon, an event coordinator, concert programmer, and DJ from Ivory Coast. Together they form Pepe Felly & Band who bring forth L'Afrique C'est Chic. L'Afrique C'est Chic is a showcase of African music from across the continet which seeks to be an international annual music festival.
Pepe Felly still travels to Switzerland and continues to play music.Today Pepe Felly Manuaku perfoms in Kinshasa, R.D.C. with his band GRAND ZAIKO WAWA and the Band's New Album "JEU DE SIX" featuring their lead singer TATYI LA DOUCE a reincarnation of the styles of Myriam Makeba, Abeti, Mpongo Love, Etisomba etc...












Friday, October 17, 2014

FAYA TESS, ARTISTE DE TAILLE

FAYA TESS DANS UN NOUVEAU ALBUM "DESOLEE"

FAYA TESS IN A NEW ALBUM "DESOLEE"



UN NOUVEAU CLIP "Désoléeee!!!!" de la célèbre chanteuse de la musique Rumba Congolaise(tiré de son nouvel album intitulé "Désoléeee!!!!" qui est sorti le 2 mars 2014









Sunday, March 23, 2014

NEW JOSEE PRISCILLE

JOSEY PRISCILLE JOUR J-0
www.youtube.com
DECOUVREZ EN AVANT PREMIERE LA NOUVELLE REVELATION DE LA MUSIC RUMBA DU CONGO ,ELLE S'APPELLE "JOSEY PRISCILLE" ,VOICI UN TEASER POUR VOUS LA FAIRE DECOUVRIR AMATEURS DE BELLE MELODIE ,FAITES LUI UNE VRAI PROMO A CETTE NOUVELLE DEESSE DE LA MUSIC , C VOUS QUI EN FEREZ UNE STAR,MERCI DE PASSER LE MESSAGE.


I've never heard of this young lady until today. I logged onto Youtube just now and found this video had been uploaded by user "soulsquad". I really like the fact that she plays the guitar. Her voice is nice and so is this song. I will be on the look out for more from Josey Priscille.

MUSIC IS BACK ON www.radiotriomphe.com AVEC GUY ANGRAND LE PALMARES DE LA RUMBA CONGOLAISE IS BACK VOUS POUVEZ ECOUTER CE SHOW: SAMEDI SOIR EN VIF DE 10 PM HRS A MINUIT MARDI DE 2 PM HRS A 4 PM HRS YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS SHOW: MERCREDI DE 5 AM HR A 7HR.AM SAMEDI MATIN DE 6 HR AM A 8 HR AM NEW YORK DAYLIGHT TIME UN SHOW SPECIALE AVEC FALLY IPUPA, BELLA BELLA, AFRICAN FIESTA, SOSOLISO ETC...







Thursday, February 13, 2014

RIP KING KESTER EMENEYA


I hate that this blog is starting to become a memorial for fallen Congolese musicians.  This morning I have been met with the news that yet another one of our Legends has died.  King Kester Emeneya passed away this morning in Paris, France. Details surrounding his death are minimal at the time but suffice it to say we here at Tambour d'Afrique are saddened by the news. May he rest in peace…

Taken from Wikipedia: 
Jean Emeneya Mubiala Kwamambu (born November 23, 1956 in Kikwit, died February 13 2014 in Paris, France) is a Congolese singer also known as King Kester Emeneya. He was born in Kikwit within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While a student of political science at the University of Lubumbashi in 1977, King Kester joined the band Viva La Musica. After achieving success with several popular songs, he became the most popular African singer in the 1980s and created his own band, Victoria Eleyson on December 24, 1982.[1]Emeneya Djo Kester was innovative with his music. He was the first central African musician to incorporate electronic instruments (synthesizers) in his album entitled Nzinzi which sold over 1 million copies. After years of success with populars songs, in 1993 he released his album Every Body distributed by Sonodisc. Every body was a big success internationally. In 1997, after a seven-year absence, King Kester returned to Congo. Nearly 80,000 people attended the first concert after his return, which was a record-setting feat according to the Congolese media. Emeneya is by far the greatest singer Africa ever had.