Language:

Lingala

Genre:

Soukous

Instrument:

Male vocals

Articles:
Interview
Interview 2

On the Internet
Music samples
Agency site

Biography

Kanda Bongo Man is one of the foremost figures in modern African popular music. He formed his first band as a 15-year-old in 1973, together with his two brothers, Soki Vangu and Soki Dianzenza. But the band, Orchestre Bella Mambo (later Bella Bella), toured in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Zaire with their newly created Soukous, a music style that is a cross between Caribbean rumba rhythms and traditional African music. 1979 Kanda Bongo Man went to Paris and had various jobs for a couple of years, including a stint at a glass factory, before getting a recording contract in 1981. Together with guitarist Diblo Dibala and Rigo Starr (!) he developed his own melodious and catchy Soukous. Already on his first discs, "Iyole" and "Djessy", he shows his ability to unite African dance rhythms with good melodies - a mix he later has sticked to and developed. In 1985 he appeared for the first time in England, at the WOMAD festival. Kanda Bongo Man has released a rack of albums and his swinging guitar-based dance music is popular all over the world today.

Relevant artists:
Diblo Dibala
Pepe Kallé
Remmy Ongala
Virunga
Mbilia Bel

NON STOP NON STOP  
Globestyle/1990

The first two albums, “Iyole” and “Djessy” on one CD. You’ll notice that, both in sound quality and the music’s tempo, much has happened since the beginning of the 1980s. The songs are longer and slower than with the more dynamic Bongoman. Guitarist Diblo Dibala does his job well on this historically important album.

(Released in France under the title of “Kanda Bongo Man”)

AMOUR FOU/CRAZY LOVE  
Hannibal/1988

Charming album comprised of two earlier LPs released in France. Lively arrangements with lots of drums in the backing. Diblo Dibala on guitar, who today has his own band, is also an attraction. The best of Bongoman’s 80s albums.

KWASSA KWASSA  
Hannibal/1989

Several of the songs here (“Sai”, “Cantique” and “Bedy”) have a melancholic undertone that is typical in Congolese music. The rest move along in common tempos, except for “Lela Lela” arranged for piano. The last album with Diblo on guitar.

(Released in France under the title “Sai-Liza”)

ISAMBE MONIE  
Melodie/1990

Essentially the same album as “Zing Zong” (see below), but released in France a year earlier. Two of the best tracks from ZZ are missing and the (older) replacements, “Liso Te” and “Lowazo”, don’t reach the same heights. I prefer the definitive “Zing Zong”.

LE RENDEVOUS DES STADES  
Melodie/1990

A must for lovers of Soukous! All the tracks on this album are Bongo Man classics in an enjoyable alternation between swift and slightly calmer songs. The only minus on this disk is that the playing time is only 33 minutes and 22 seconds.

ZING ZONG  
Hannibal/1991

One of his best albums, without a single weak track. It’s really a memorial album for his two brothers, both of whom died within the space of one year, 1989-90. The song “Freres Soki” is dedicated to them. Guitarist Nene Tchako is in great form on the whole album, with precise and original riffs that really set those dancing feet tapping. Fine variation of song material ensures that this is never humdrum. Successful use of brass instruments on some tracks. Guaranteed to fill the dance floor wherever it’s played.

SANGO  
Melodie/1992

New recordings of the best known and most popular songs from the past, plus two new melodies. A cute album, where the tempos of the songs are livened up in contrast to their older original recordings. Blossoming arrangements but exaggerated use of drum machines makes it too smooth.

SOUKOUS IN CENTRAL PARK  
Hannibal/1993

Recording from Bongoman’s spectacular live performance in New York. This album has a lovely atmosphere. The material is mainly from "Zing Zong" and "Kwassa-Kwassa".
(Clique record company for music samples)

WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA  
Melodie/1995

A serviceable album, but Bongoman doesn’t quite succeed with his blend of Soukous and South African rhythms. A praiseworthy effort to introduce new elements into the Soukous with, among others, piano. But the traditional songs are still the best.

SWEET  
Melodie/1999

When one of the best in African music comes along with a new album one is allowed to have expectations. Kanda Bongo Man is a master in his small format. His easy and catchy melodies do well, in principle, with guitar, bass and drums. That of course takes a guitarist who can fill up the space around him. Nene Tshako, for example, shone with “Zing Zong” (1991), as did Diblo Dibala on many of Bongoman’s earlier albums.
On “Sweet” Bongoman has begun to tamper with the recipe. He operates with a co-vocalist, Faya Tess, and a thorough synthetic sound. But Faya Tess, the synthesizer, and drum machines cannot match Bongoman’s genuine charm in the format he really knows and many of the tracks on the new album are purely and simply avarage soukous. Nene Tshako, permanent guitarist through the years, plays on only one track. Only three of the tracks lift themselves above the ordinary, “My Love Elizabeth”, “Nkolo Yesu”, and “Elaka”. “My Love Elizabeth” is Kanda Bongo Man’s first ever song in English and here he reaches old heights. The song is catchy and witty and it would not amaze me if this song became a big hit in Anglophile Africa. “Elaka” is the only track with Nene Tshako and there, suddenly, the silver tones cascade over us again! Beautiful! Nene Tshako, come back!

VERY BEST OF
Nascente/2002

1. Liza (Kanda) - 6:36
2. Lisote (Kanda) - 4:51
3. Sango (Kanda) - 4:30
4. Zing Zong (Kanda/Vangu) - 4:55
5. Monie (Kanda) - 4:47
6. Sai (Kanda) - 6:26
7. Cantique (Kanda) - 5:20
8. Bedy (Kanda) - 5:16
9. J.T. (Kanda) - 3:17
10. Djessy (Kanda) - 4:26
11. Iyole (Kanda) - 4:00

BALOBI
Gallo/Melodie/Sonodisc/2002

SWALATI
Gallo/Melodie/Sonodisc/2003

Recorded in South Africa with South African musicians.
Click record company for sound samples. (Search for artist + shift.)

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