Product Description
The Soul of Congo is a compilation that spans the years from 1948 to 1963 as the Belgian Congo emerged from colonial subjugation into the first flower of Independence. Singers and players came to Congo’s capital Léopoldville, from all over Central Africa — from the streets of Brazzaville on the opposite shore of the Congo river to the vast plateau of Mbanza Congo in Angola, from the mineral rich areas of Lubumbashi (Elizabethville) in the Deep South to the lively docks of Kisangani (Stanleyville) in the northeast, from the rocky wastes of Mbandaka (Coquilhatville) in the West to the majestic forests of Bukavu (Costermansville) in the East.
Léopoldville became a cauldron of musical syncretism between the African rhythms that arrived with these musicians and the European, Caribbean and Cuban tunes that were popular in the big city. The new sounds were recorded for one of the big five Congo labels: Opika, Loningisa, Esengo, Olympia or Ngoma. None of the other Congolese labels better showcased the energy, variety & spirit of this era than the Ngoma label. The label was founded by the Greek Nicolas Jéronimidis in 1948. After his early death in 1951, it was further developed by Nikis Cavvadias and Alexandros Jéronimidis. During its existence, from 1948 until 1971, Ngoma made over 4500 recordings, creating a crucial cultural legacy. Now with Unesco declaring Congolese Rumba as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity as of December 2021, it is fitting they are restored to the ears of the world.
As the Ngoma label flourished, so too did the first big stars of this new sound: Manuel d’Oliveira from San Salvador, Antoine Kolosoy “Wendo’’ from Bandundu and Léon Bukasa from Katanga. The three of them are heavily featured in the Ngoma catalogue and in this compilation. Ngoma also provided a way for female singers, such as Martha Badibala, to rise to fame and inspire other women to dream of a life beyond taking care of the kids and husband. Futhermore, the label was keen to record traditional folkloric music, such as the songs by likembe player Antoine Mundanda. It also looked for fresh talent as far away as Brussels where they recorded Camerounian heartthrob Charles Lembe fronting a fierce quartet on some flashy adapted Cuban Guaracha rhythms. Instrumentalists like Antoine Kasongo (clarinet), Albino Kalombo (sax) and Tino Baroza (guitar) also made their mark through the Ngoma recordings.
Ngoma is also known for releasing Adou Elenga’s hit “Ata Ndele,” that criticized the white colonists. It led to his imprisonment and the song being quickly deleted from the catalogue after its release in 1954 (long sought after, a rare original copy has been found for this compilation). Angolan Paul Mwanga, too, was unstinting in his criticism of the colonials, and he was also active with authors’ rights associations. Frank Lassan was a singer who brought the romantic style of French crooners to Congolese popular culture, while guitar wizard Manoka De Saïo or “Maitre Colon Gentil” were flamboyant popular figures in the nightclub scene, captured on disc. Guitar prodigies like Antoine Nedule “Papa Noel” or Mose Se Sengo “Fan Fan” cut their teeth as teenagers in studio bands. The band names changed rapidly — Beguen Band, Jazz Mango, Jazz Venus, Dynamic Jazz, Affeinta Jazz, Mysterieux Jazz, Orchestre Novelty, Rumbanella Bande, Vedette Jazz, La Palma, Negrita Jazz — all of them are heard here.
Dedicated record collectors came together to make this compilation possible. From the USA, Belgium, Japan, France, Morocco and The Netherlands, these generous fans of the music have pooled their collections for the compilation, assembled and annotated by Alastair Johnston who runs the Muzikifan website from California. He dedicates this release to Flemming Harrev from the reference website afrodisc.com who passed away in 2020. Legendary but unheard songs were tracked down, some emerging from dead stock in a forgotten Tanzanian record store. Experts who have made previous compilations were solicited for their advice and recommendations; liner notes, graduate theses, African periodicals, blogs and documents by authorities such as Jean-Pierre Nimy Nzonga, Sylvain Konko, Gary Stewart, Manda Tchebwa, and Michel Lonoh were scoured for clues.
1. G. Edouard na M. Oliveira na baninga na bango – Marie Tchebo
2. G. Edouard na M. Oliveira na baninga na bango – Moasi Kitoko Akolala na Nkwala
3. Adou Elenga – Verebina
4. Antoine Kasongo – Leonie Bernadette
5. Martha Badibala & Wendo na baninga – Martha Ake Kotoka Mai
6. Adou Elenga, ndeko na ye Mousaidi Louis na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Mokili Ekobaluka
7. Mundanda Antoine, baninga ba ye na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Mwana Aboyi Mama 03:05
8. Kabongo Bonkoli – Bukasa ne Wendo Moyu Weno
9. Kabangu Raphaël na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Pete na Mosapi
10. Trio BOW na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Kombo wa Biso Biteke Suzanne
11. Trio BOW na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Voyage ya Bana Ngoma
12. Wendo accompagné de Georges Edouard et le Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Ekekeke
13. Wendo accompagné de Georges Edouard et le Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Mawa Esali Ngai
14. Bukasa Léon, Kalombo Albino na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Bonne Année (Lingala)
15. L. Batubenga accompagné de A. Kalombo, L. Bukasa & Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Katchita Rumba de Bamba
16. G. Edouard, M. Oliveira, Freitas na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Okomi Kobanzaka Ngai
17. Kaba Joseph, J. D. Malapet, Ed. Ganga na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Bana y’Atomic Jazz 03:14
18. Martha Badibala, Caroline Mpia na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Keba Malamu na Mobali wa Ngai
19. Martha Badibala, Caroline Mpia na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Ba Mbanda Basuani
20. Adou Elenga – Bibi Sisika
21. M. Oliveira, H. Freitas, G. Edouard – E, Primo ya Wondelela
22. M. Oliveira, H. Freitas, G. Edouard – Ngai na Lingi Yo 03:08
23. Adou Elenga – Minakwenda Mbele 03:00
24. Franc Lassan & Rumbanella Bande – Rumbanella Bande
25. De Saïo – Demowe 03:08
26. Léon Bukasa – Monique wa Baba
27. Léon Bukasa – Makutano ya Chinkolobwe
28. Léon Bukasa – Chérie Melanie
29. Kalombo Albino accompagné par Bukasa Léon – Bertha Roho Mbaya
30. Tino Baroza – Tuntanyi Tunua Mbamba
31. Léon Bukasa – Penepene
32. Léon Bukasa – Louise Mungambule 03:01
33. Léon Bukasa – Kobeta Mwasi Te
34. Franc Lassan accompagné par le Beguen Band – Omba Likita 03:05
35. Fylla, Micky & Théo et l’orchestre Maquina Loca – Esperencia
36. Fylla, Micky & Théo et l’orchestre Maquina Loca – Bango Oyo 02:59
37. Maitre Colon Gentil & son orch. Tip Top Jazz – Rumba ya Matoko na Bandumba
38. Camille Feruzi & Mysterieux Jazz – Josephine
39. Pierre Delafrance accompagné par le Beguen Band – Eloko Nini Bakosala
40. Dumana & Dynamic Jazz – Eloko ya Moninga Kotia Motema Te
41. San Salvador – Umbanzilanga Mumayela
42. Kalombo Albino accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Kamungule 02:57
43. Trio BOW Bukasa-Oliveira-Wendo – Anna Yaya
44. Leon Kabuya & Mysterieux Jazz – Taumani Accompagna
45. Khim Valentino et l’orch. Dynamic Jazz – Sebele
46. Tchadé accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Mono Kwame ya Nzola
47. André Depiano accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Oye Cha Cha Cha
48. M. Oliveira & H. Freitas accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Mobembo ya Cocq 02:55
49. San Salvador – G. Edouard, M. Oliveira, H. Freitas & Bila accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Tuwayilanga Kimpwanza
50. Le batteur Popol Marcot et l’orch. Jazz Africain sous la direction d’Edos-Claire – Mawa na Yakoi
51. Phil-Philo & Mario Lopes avec l’orchestre Jazz Babalou – Batela Elaka na Ngai
52. Le compositeur-chanteur Bukasa Léon et l’orchestre Jazz Mango – Bukasa Aleli
53. Mwanga Paul et l’orchestre Affeinta Jazz – Soneka Nkanda
54. Mwanga Paul et l’orchestre Affeinta Jazz – Kongo Mpaka Diena
55. Mwanga Paul et l’orchestre Affeinta Jazz – Ngudi Wabebesa Mwana
56. Mwanga Paul et l’orchestre Affeinta Jazz – Mambu Ngolo Mena
57. Dynamic Jazz – Putchu Mita
58. Le compositeur-chanteur Depiano et l’orchestre Beguen Band – Bolingo Nkisi Te
59. Groupe de Flûtistes Bayeke Lulua Jazz – Fulukayi, Tshisuisa
60. Charles Lembe & son orchestre – Suavecito Mambo
61. Charles Lembe & son orchestre – Sanaga
62. Le bassiste Lasso et l’orchestre Vedette Jazz – Pregunta por Nos
63. Mwanga Paul Le Maître Compositeur de la Chanson Kikongo (with Jazz Venus) – Putulukesu Zengele Ndombe
64. Mwanga Paul Le Maître Compositeur de la Chanson Kikongo (with Jazz Venus) – Ma Bulu Mankatu Lutima 02:57
65. Le compositeur Diablotin et l’orchestre Jazz Venus – Antonio Lenta
66. L’orchestre La Palma – Yo Keba na Ngai 02:59
67. Thino avec Negrita Jazz – Thino Mosantu ya Negrita
68. Tchadé et son orchestre Jazz Beguen – Naboyi
69. Maproco et l’orchestre Vedette Jazz – Maproco Cantar
