DRC with Moroka
DRC is a country that has suffered immeasurably over the past 500 years. The slave trade took around 4 million people were enslaved and taken to Brasil, the US and the Caribbean; they were colonised brutally by the Belgians from 1885 to 1960 and they survived two civil wars which lasted from 1996 and 2003. It seems surprising as a result that their music is so uplifting. Or possibly not. Listening to music from DRC never fails to make me smile.
There is a very heavy latin influence in the music of DRC, particularly the Congolese Rhumba which is derived from the Cuban Son style. Like the music of Latin America, this means great rhythms and a positive, sunny disposition. The first star of African Rumba is Papa Wemba and I closed the show with his tune Jamais Kolonga.
There are also some unmistakable electronic sounds coming out of DRC, specifically the capital Kinshasa. As KOKOKO! put it, they are “best known for creating a contemporary aesthetic all their own by re-wiring and up-cycling materials such as metal, cans, engine parts and plastic containers found in Kinshasa’s streets into vital sculptural resonant dance music. Their distorted fast rhythms and spontaneous lo-fi electric sounds provide the chaotic soundtrack for the city's harsh yet abundantly creative realities.” This is the sound of the street, and the block parties they hold where they make their instruments from the salvaged materials.
Sam Mangwana was one of the first African musicians I saw live. I must have been about 10 or so and it made a real impression on me. The energy, the effortless performance, and the positivity of the music all stuck with me. Although it was my brother Ben who climbed up onto the stage to dance with them! Check out some photos my mum dug out recently - my brother has the 90s bowl cut…..
The show also features an interview with friend and producer Moroka, discussing his Kourou & Kabibi EP. It was inspired by the passing of Papa Wemba and takes much of the sounds from the film La Vie est Belle. Check out the interview and the incredible EP!!
Full Tracklist:
Sammy Massamba - Sala Keba
Sammy Massamba - Propriete Privee
Franco, Sam Mangwana, TPOK Jazz - Fabrice Akende Sango
Franco, Sam Mangwana, TPOK Jazz - Cooperation
Syran Mbenza - Tour a Tour
Quatre Etoiles - Manque d'occupation
Tabu Ley Rochereau - Hafi Deo
M'Bamina - Kilowi Kilowi (DJ Twitch Edit)
Kasia Allstars - Drowning Goat - Esa Remix
DRC Music - Lingala (feat Bokatola System and Evala Litongo)
KOKOKO! - Melembe
KOKOKO! - Tokoliana
Moroka Interview
Moroka - Plates
Moroka - Pas Aujourd'hui
Tabu Ley Rochereau - Monsieur Malongo
Mbilia Bel, Tabu Ley Rochereau - Mobali N Ngai Wana
Quatre Etoiles - Doly
Tabu Ley Rochereau - Sima Na Ngai
Orchestre Stukas - Mobutu Praise Song
Grand Kalle, L'African Jazz - Jamais Kolonga
Grand Kalle - Independance Cha Cha
Moroka - La Vie Est Belle
Papa Wemba - Jamais Kolonga
