Africa Roots vol.3 [1985, LP]

Les Rochettes [dansers of Tabu Ley Rochereau & Afrisa International]
1985.Jul.10 in Melkweg Amsterdam

My post about and positive reactions to Africa/World Roots on Milky Way K7s made me dug into my collection. I remembered I had some Africa Roots LPs and guess what, I found Vol.3, the one which does not seem to have been released on K7 [at least nowhere found any audio nor info from such]. So I digitized my own LP, which wasn't so easy and took me more time than expected, because of technical problems.
Anyway I am happy and proud to present to you:

AFRICA-ROOTS-1985_Vol.3 · live A'dam
incl.detail of album cover*, posters and newspaper articles about the 1985 Festival itself

1985, LP, Milkyway Records #F.1014785
TRACKLIST
a1.Les Officiers Of African Music - Helena (7:00)
a2.Les Officiers Of African Music - Rebia (5:10)
a3.Tabu Ley Rochereau - Sanza Misato (6:25)
a4.Tabu Ley Rochereau - Kaful Mayay (3:25)
a5.Somo Somo - Mele (3:25)
b1.Bembeya Jazz - Yekeke (8:10)
b2.Bembeya Jazz - N Kanuwe (6:05)
b3.Kumbi Saleh - Hwan Na Odo Me (7:45)

a1-a2: recorded 1985.Jul.14 at the Melkweg, Amsterdam
a3-a4: recorded 1985.Jul.10 at the Melkweg, Amsterdam
a5: recorded 1985.Jul.11 at the Melkweg, Amsterdam
b1-b3: recorded 1985.Jul.12 at the Melkweg, Amsterdam

LINER NOTES
Since the first AFRICA ROOTS festival [1983] in Amsterdam there has been a growing interest in African popular music. Based on traditional African rhythms and in combination with western techniques a new generation of African bands have developed exciting styles of dance music. Most of them, already successful in Africa, like to present their powerful music-culture to audiences abroad.
-- LES OFFICIERS Of African Music combine the best of the Congolese music-scene in Paris, featuring 'the golden voide' Tchico and masterguitarist Denis Lacloche Their music is a superb mix of soukous and disco ingredients, high energy dance rhythms, which for sure will change your mood.
-- TABU LEY R0CHEREAU is the pioneer of the 'chanson africaine' and Zairean [=Congo] popmusic in general. Still living in Kinshasa, Zaire he now sings all over the world with his band AFRISA INTERNATIONAL - bringing a powerful show of strong soukous dance songs with melting harmonies.
-- SOMO SOMO is the new group of Zairean [=Congo] master guitarplayer/singer/composer MOSE-FAN FAN-SESENGO, who played for seven years with the fámous FRANCO in Africa. Together with the South African female:vocalist Doreen Webster he sings exciting melodies in ihe soukous style of Zaire.
-- BEMBEYA JAZZ is the legendary national orchestra of Guinea, West Africa. From the beginning in 1961 their music has been an essential part of Guinean history. Only recently have they started playing for international audiences. On this very first European live recording we can enjoy their emotional music with the brilliant guitar of Sekou - Diamond Fingers - Diabate.
-- KUMBI SALEH is a band of Ghanaian musicians based in Amsterdam. They present their original highlife music from Ghana for the first time on vinyl, after being extremely successful on different European stages, with a song about the delicate affairs of human affection - who will love me?

Links to videos I found about the 1985 Africa Roots Festival:

• 1985.Jul.10: Les Rochettes [see above, dansers of Tabu Ley Rochereau & Afrisa International] in Melkweg Amsterdam
• 1985.Jul.10: Tabu Ley Rochereau in Melkweg Amsterdam 
• 1985.Jul.14: Les Officiers Of African Music in Melkweg Amsterdam 
• 1985.Jul.14: Kumbi Saleh at Festival in Vondelpark 

*unfortunately, I'm unable to make full scans of the album sleeve, so only the most important part of the backside is included, with tracklist, small pictures and liner notes

Congo Special 1988 and Franco live 1984

Embed from Getty Images

Franco 1984.Aug.16 in Paradiso, Amsterdam

Hello, how are you, I know you, I knew you... 

Yes, hello how are you all, who were wondering what happened with Mangue Music. Well I was very, very busy with many, many other things. Always keeping in the back of my mind to return here and post some good music, if I had the time and a good oportunity.

Well that oportunity happened at a flea markwet where I found a very strange CD, with very little info about it's contents. So I asked the seller, and he didn't have a clue. Therefore I asked if I could listen to it, he said he didn't have a player there, but I could just take it and have it for free.

I liked his generousness, as the text on the disc "Franco Op Slag van Maandag, KRO 1988"; had given me the idea that it might be an interesting andpotentially special CD.

Well IT IS!!!! It's a radioshow broadcasted sometime in 1988 on Dutch KRO radio, and it has two parts:

• An almost half hour Congo Special
• A more than half hour recording of FRANCO live 1984.Jan.24 in Amsterdam

CONGO Special 1988 and FRANCO live 1984 in Amsterdam

No listen link this time, just downlaod it and enjoy the following:

• CONGO Special 1988
• 1.Pablo Porthos - Madeleina [1981]
• 2.Bibi Den's Tshibayi - The "Best" Ambience [1982/84]
• 3.Joseph Kabasselle - El Que Siembra Su Maïz [1950s]
• 4.Rochereau Et Franco - Kabassele In Memoriam [1983]
• FRANCO live 1984.Jan.24 in the Melkweg in Amsterdam

During my absence blogger/google has changed a lot concerning inserting images, I tried several ways, without success, so instead of my own images, a pictures from getty embedded in the post [but don't worry, my own are all in the download...]

Some links for those of you who like add.info about Franco:

• a lot of audio by one of his biggest fans at worldservice 
• an old blog with a lot of info at Franco et TPOK Jazz Restored 
• an interesting article about Franco in The Journal of Music 
• an article* from a Dutch newspaper
  "Bandleider Franco was machtiger dan Mobutu"  

*I made translations of quotes by Stefan Werdekker [wrldsrv!] from the above linked Dutch article:

"He gave post-colonial Africa its own identity from the sixties onwards. With his pursuit of authenticity, of its own identity through music, he influenced the entire continent. Franco demonstrated how you could combine elements from your own folk music with electric guitar music. He was also a great bandleader. A kind of training institute, because everyone performed best with him. He understood the art of - well, he often took them away from competitors - constantly attracting new talent. Until his death in 1989, he had about fifty people on his payroll, spread over orchestras in Kinshasa, Paris and Brussels."

Franco's songs last about ten minutes. They start with the heating, the warm-up, in which the singers play a leading role. Then it's the turn of the guitars, which slowly slide their repetitive motifs into each other. Werdekker: "Franco called that the 'mipanza', the 'knitting style'. You could call him the Rivaldo of Congolese rumba. He sent the band to a certain point and then waited for his moment like a libero."

"He was essentially a rebel, a provocateur who denounced everything in his songs. Even though he supported the political campaigns of President Mobutu, he always remained critical. For example, the song 'Camp Luka' is about a slum in Kinshasa, which borders on a lavish residential area. 'Can you explain to me why?' Franco sings in every chorus. He also attacked ministers such as Kengo Wadondo of Justice. In the satirical 'Tailleur' ​​(the tailor), he gets a dig at him because he cuts up freedom of expression and cuts it to his size."

"Franco was popular in all layers of the population. Mobutu was powerful thanks to Franco, his politics gained a certain legitimacy. Franco was the only one who could take his president to task. After his death, that critical note disappeared and the flaws in Mobutu's politics came to light. Only then did Mobutu make his first concessions to democracy."

The 1984.Jan.24 concert by Franco in The Melkweg is listed as one of THE 4 live-concert-sensations of the last century. Together with: Lionel Hampton [1953, Amsterdam], The Beatles [1964, Blokker] and The Rolling Stones [1964, Kurhaus]. Well that's SOMETHING to be in such a list!

And last a quote from Franco himself, shortly before he passed away in 1989: "I've just walked to Lourdes, that's why now I can't stand on my own legs." 

Diblo Dibala 1992.Jul.19 - Kershaw & Peel Complete

For today the complete 1992 Kershaw & Peel Sessions by Diblo Dibala with Matchatcha. With this you can "Dansez Dansez" till it's 2020, YaHuu!!

promo picture of Diblo with two Matchatcha members
[source: eBay]

I have earlier made two posts about Diblo Dibala, both incomplete and mostly repeats:

• 1992.Jul.19 - Kershaw & Peel Session #1 [4 Kershaw repeats]
• 1994.Nov.19 - Peel & Kershaw Session #2 [1 Peel original with 3 Kershaw repeats]

But this time it's the complete first session, meaning all the tracks, from the original first broadcast, including in- and outro's of the songs by Andy Kershaw and John Peel.


Listen to a [earleir posted] repeat of Bolingo from the session




DIBALA DIBLO - 1992.Jul.19 - Kershaw & Peel Session COMPLETE


bc.1992.Aug.08, BBC Radio 1 - Andy Kershaw 21-23hr:
setlist: intro by Andy Kershaw / 1.Mondo Ry / 2.Matchachacha Wetu / 3.Bolingo / 4.Merci Papa //

bc.1992.Aug.08, BBC Radio 1 - John Peel 23-02hr:
setlist: 5.Tcheke / 6.Medisance / 7.Laissez Passer / 8.Extra Ball / show outro by Peel

add.info from Keeping It Peel [BBC]
Line-up: Diblo Dibala - guitar, vocals / J.P.Kinzaki - rhythm guitar / Alain Dieng - bass / Serge Bimangou - percussion / Ringo Avom - drums / Emi Laskin - vocals / Mondo David - vocals / Gwen Lemonnier - backing vocals / Electra Weston - backing vocals / Laure Anne - backing vocals / Antoinette Yelessa - backing vocals, dancer

I think the in- and outro's with background info about the session, some peculiar details and just the pure enthusiasm of the DJs themselves, really add to the music itself. So I cut all the tracks with full in-outro's, as far as available.
Note this session was earlier posted at Maggot Caviar, but that was the music only [probably from a different taper] and for some sort of reason the blog is recently deleted, so not available anymore.

More about Diblo Dibala:

• biography by Janet Planet at africanmusic.org
• biography [incl.disco and biblio] by Gary Stewart at rumbaontheriver
  note both included as stand alone htm-files in the doanload 

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Diblo Dibala 1992.Jul.19 Kershaw Peel Sessions

Just found the missing track of the 1992.July19 Kershaw Session by Diblo Dibala & Matchatcha.
Therefore today: Maintenant C'est Dansez Dansez!!

Diblo Dibala 1992.May.01 in the Boston Globe

Diblo Dibala, born in 1954 in Kisangani in the Congo (now Zaire), of the Baluba people, is one of the hottest African Soukous lead guitarists around. At the age of 6 Diblo moved to Kinshasa and by the age of 15 he was playing guitar in the great Franco's TPOK band. In Kinshasa, Diblo continued to master his lava-hot guitar chops with such top Zairean bands as Vox Africa, Orchestre Bella Mambo, and Bella Bella.
In 1979 Diblo left Zaire and landed in Brussels where he played a rented guitar and washed dishes to make money. In 1981 he moved to Paris, where the Soukous scene was a happening thing. He rejoined Kanda Bongo Man, who he had played with in Bella Bella. Their first album, Iyole (1981), was a big hit: Kanda became a big star, and Diblo became the most sought-after session man in Paris. Diblo's huge European success with Kanda Bongo Man led to the formation of his own band, Loketo (which means 'hips', as in 'shake your...'), featuring the work of the gifted vocalist Aurlus Mabele. By this time Diblo was the dominant Soukous session man in Paris and he was in great demand. On recordings by such Soukous giants as Kanda Bongo Man and Pepe Kalle you can hear them calling out "Diblo" when guitar solo time comes around. In 1990 Diblo left Loketo to form Matchatcha (which means "a type of flower that produces an itch").--Janet Planet, The African Music Encyclopedia - http://africanmusic.org/artists/diblo.html

John Peel and Andy Kershaw, on learning Diblo was making an appearance at Stern's African Records, raced there to get his autograph. He repaid the compliment by giving name checks to both of them on 'Matchatcha Wetu' (included in the session).

Listen to Bolingo from the session



DIBALA-DIBLO-19920719_Kershaw Peel BBC-rpts


rec.1992.Jul.19 / double session with Kershaw (four on each show) / bc.1992.Aug.08
tracklist Kershaw:  1.Mondo Ry* / 2.Matchacha Wetu* / 3.Bolingo* / 4.Merci Papa*
source: rpt.2018.Sep.10 and 2019.Jan.15, BBC 6music Gideon Coe

After the 1992.Aug.08 Kershaw show, John Peel played the other part of the double session by Diblo Dibala & Matchatcha, this is posted by Sterling Cale on his blog Maggot Caviar

As a bonus to this session I have included the only track I have found so gar of the 2nd Peel Session:
rec.1994.Nov.19 - bc.1995.Jan.14: tracknr.4 Destin (also in earlier post about Diblo)

For more info about Diblo Dibala head over to the Bio by Gary Stewart at rumbaontheriver (incl.selected disco and biblio).

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Diblo Dibala And Matchatcha - 1994.Nov.19 - Peel & Kershaw Session #2

OK, now something really "out of the mangue box", nevertheless delicious...

Diblo Dibala guitarist from Congo (source: Peel Wikia)

Diblo Dibala, born in 1954 in Kisangani in the Congo (now Zaire), of the Baluba people, is one of the hottest African Soukous lead guitarists around. At the age of 6 Diblo moved to Kinshasa and by the age of 15 he was playing guitar in the great Franco's TPOK band. In Kinshasa, Diblo continued to master his lava-hot guitar chops with such top Zairean bands as Vox Africa, Orchestre Bella Mambo, and Bella Bella.

In 1979 Diblo left Zaire and landed in Brussels where he played a rented guitar and washed dishes to make money. In 1981 he moved to Paris, where the Soukous scene was a happening thing. He rejoined Kanda Bongo Man, who he had played with in Bella Bella. Their first album, Iyole (1981), was a big hit: Kanda became a big star, and Diblo became the most sought-after session man in Paris. Diblo's huge European success with Kanda Bongo Man led to the formation of his own band, Loketo (which means 'hips', as in 'shake your...'), featuring the work of the gifted vocalist Aurlus Mabele. By this time Diblo was the dominant Soukous session man in Paris and he was in great demand. On recordings by such Soukous giants as Kanda Bongo Man and Pepe Kalle you can hear them calling out "Diblo" when guitar solo time comes around. In 1990 Diblo left Loketo to form Matchatcha (which means "a type of flower that produces an itch").--Janet Planet, The African Music Encyclopedia

John Peel and Andy Kershaw, on learning Diblo was making an appearance at Stern's African Records, raced there to get his autograph. Diblo repaid the compliment by giving name checks to both of them on 'Matchatcha Wetu'.

• "Another gig that I've been to in the recent past, and one of the very best that I've been to in my entire life, featured Matchatcha with the guitar player Diblo Dibala from Paris. I'm not a dancing man, to be perfectly honest with you, cos I haven't really got the figure for it, but on this particular occasion I was dancing away like nobody's business, and the high point of the entire magical evening came when he played a new song from the new LP, called O.K. Madame, and the song is called Matchatcha Wetu, and what is particularly significant about this, and this is egotistical of me, I admit it in advance, but if you listen very carefully to this record, one minute and fifteen seconds into it, Diblo goes "Andy Kershaw" (that's the name of one of my colleagues at the radio station I work for in London), BBC, John Peela." You have to listen very carefully to catch it, but believe me, to hear Diblo singing your name on stage is one of the greatest things that's happened to me in my entire life." --Peel Out In The States

all info sourced from: peel.wikia.com/wiki/Diblo_Dibala

Listen to Diblo Dibala - Afropop recording at 50:50min in the show:


DIBALA-DIBLO-19941119_Peel Kershaw BBC

Diblo Dibala And Matchatcha - 1994.Nov.19 - Kershaw & Peel Session #2
tracklist Peel: 1.Intro / 2.Lye (an interjection of happiness] / 3.Kangaroo (a dance) / 4.Destin*
tracklist Kershaw: 5.Fodi* (Zaire folk style) / 6.Oliva* (A Girl) / 7.Soupou* (A Soup) / ?.[probably unknow 4th track]
NOTE: only tracks marked * in download (hoping for others to show up...)

sources:
-Peel Session (1 track): bc.1995.Jan.14 Peel Show (taped and shared through Peel Group)
-Kershaw Session (3 tracks): rpt.2017.Mar.02, 6music Gideon Coe (captured HQ radio stream)

line-up during sessions:

• Diblo Dibala - guitar
• J.P. Kinzaki - rhythm guitar
• Miguel Yamba - bass
• Komba Bello Mafwala, Dely Mpeletu and David Mondoand  - vocals
• Antoinette Yelessa and Joelle Esso - dancers

More Diblo Dibala

• Kershaw & Peel sessions 1992 - download at maggotcaviar 
• Session recording (at.52min) for Afropop Worldwide - included in rpt.of old show (with some new voiceovers) at their soundcloud
  show includes much more delicious music by a.o.Khaled, Salif Keita, Dienaba Diakite, Fela, Diblo Dibala, etc
• A live recording (date and location unknown) - youtube
• Diblo Dibala's own youtube channel (unfortunately with hidden video list)
• Read about Diblo in Breakout: Profiles in African Rhythm
• Read about Diblo in Rumba on the River
• Read about Diblo in Africa: Your Passport to a New World of Music
• Read about Diblo in World Music Rough Guide - Vol.1: Africa, etc

NEVER EVER FORGET:

"il faut me pardonner - you must forgive me"

Pap Djah's last words before left on his own
in the Sahara desert (in Niger)

Papa Wemba remembered more (1999, live in Germany)

Just catched this Homage to Papa Wemba broadcasted on Funkhaus Europa - World Live, every day in the week at 23hr. Live Global Popmusic.
Previous day's broadcast you can listen on the LOOP, note that start is not at beginning of program but at the point where the loop is at that very moment.

Well last monday (May.02) they remembered the late Papa Wemba with a broadcast:

"GOOGLE translation (DE=>EN): Papa Wemba RIP - 2016.May.02 - King of Soukous
The King of Soukous and Congolese rumba is dead: Papa Wemba broke on April 24 in Abidjan on stage together. Now the world mourns Africa superstar. The national hero with the "magic touch" was one of the first international African Global Pop Heroes!
Papa Wemba was only 66 years old. The death of one of the most popular musicians of Africa was unexpected and much too early. The brilliant singer and bandleader with the high voice still had a lot going on: build schools in his country, fight child poverty, support as a mentor to the music scene. Since the 60s, the stylish all-rounder commuted in various formations between Kinshasa and Paris. With bands like Yoka Lokole or Viva La Musica. The Congolese superstar brought one of the first global pop stars the Soukous on the international stages: a fusion of Highlife, Afro-Cuban Rumba and West and Central African roots music. The ultimate breakthrough Papa Wemba with his "Emotion Album" at Peter Gabriel's Real World label in 1995: because there was more than 100,000 copies sold! Because he had helped African immigrants to enter France, the Congolese national hero arrived in France in 2004 even short jail.
Recorded in 1999.January, Bielefeld, Hechelei"
Note MANGUE: date not sure, in program is said 1999.September!!

PAPA-WEMBA-199909_Bielefend

setlist: 1.Shofele / 2.Espelo / 3.Sakana / 4.Bakwetu / 5.unknown title / 6.Yolele / 7.N´Fono Yami / 8.Awa Yókeyi / 9.Excuse Me / 10.Zero / 11.Oldies Are Oldies / 12.Maria Valencia (cut, end of program)

Note: unknow tracknr.5 has text "Yesu A PaPa, Buka Lenge ...", also Papa Wemba sayd something funny in between as the singers started laughing
Anybody here understand what it's about?

Papa Wemba (1949-2016) went Prince's Way

Just reached me the news, that after Prince, another great musician has left our world, Papa Wemba collapsed on stage during a performance this weekend in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Further infos can be found here:

• www.afropop.org/28802/adieu-papa-wemba/
• peel.wikia.com/wiki/Papa_Wemba
• www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36131322

On his website (papawemba.info) can even be watched a video when it happened.

As a Homage I like to present you here a double BBC Session:

PAPA-WEMBA-19920819_BBC Sessions

Andy Kershaw session:

1.Lingo Lingo / 2.Le Voyageur / 3.Anna / unknown 4th track missing

John Peel session:

1.Madilamba / 2.Zero / 3.Maria Valencia / 4.Ombela

 

Both sessions recorded on same day and broadcasted in consequetive radio shows, line-up:

Papa Wemba - lead vocals / Amisi Mela - backing vocals / Patric Mazie Magdelaine - guitar / Magid Mahdi - bass / Heire Ra Kotofizinge - keyboards / Jean Philippe Dary - keyboards / Roge Raspail - percussion / Lauzent Coatalen - percussion / Joseph Kuo - drums

 

Remember (and if you wish pray for) him when listening to his music!!

 

PS: about the late Prince, started thinking if he ever did any musical collaboration with African and/or other non-western musician(s), don't remember nor couldn't find such, anybody knows of any?