Orchestra Super Mazembe---Kenya Soukous Stars---

Orchestra Super Mazembe (Bulldozers) were Soukous superstars in East Africa back in the 80's. Originally from Zaire (now Republic of Congo), they set up operations in Nairobi in 1974 and began scoring chart-topping hits and filling dance floors shortly thereafter. I am listening to a compilation album put out by Sterns Music and released by Earthworks in 2001, that collects a number of the band's greatest hits. It is really a fantastic sampler of the group. Sweet guitar, driving rhythms, bass lines bubbling up, soaring sublime harmonies, what more can you ask for? It's no small surprise that this band quickly became a sensation. And to my ears the music still sounds as fresh as it was 30 years ago.

After a hard day's work, and being in an unusually foul mood, listening to the first few songs brought a sea-change to my surly temperament. The music is infectiously happy music indeed, the lyrics seemingly about everyday events, universal situations. Songs about wandering husbands, love songs, difficulties of life, not having enough money. But as much about kicking back and enjoying yourself, sweeping your problems to the side for a little while. Super Mazembe Orchestra was founded by Mutonkole Longwa Didos, who died in 1999. It seems like most of the original members are no longer with us, unfortunately. Knowing how tough it is to make it over here, you can only imagine the difficulties this group must have endured. According to the copious liner notes to album, by Trevor Herman, they toured around a lot in Zambia, Uganda, and Zaire, in addition to Kenya, performing songs in different languages in order to gain more popularity regionally.



Kassongo is the awesome first song on the CD, and the group vocals are downright beatific. Can't stop smiling when I hear this number.





Mukala Musi, folks. Killer stuff. Even though the funkier music from Africa is getting attention these days via numerous recent African reissues, this is the kind of stuff that I enjoy the most. Earthworks put out a few East African comps way back when, Kenya Dance Mania and Guitar Paradise of East Africa, for those looking for some decent samplers. But I have to say this CD definitely hits the spot, abundant with the sort of joy that crosses international boundaries with impunity, my favorite form of globalization. Listen, and enjoy, and be more than a little amazed. A band on top of their game.

Sound D'Afrique Volume 1: Soukous Dance Party on Mango

Sound D'Afrique Volume 1 is a fun collection of African Dance Music that came out on Mango records in the 1981. It was the first Soukous collection released on a major label for a Western audience. If you have a compelling need of cheering up, this album would definitely do the trick.

The album is a six track sampler that has songs from groups from five African nations, from the French speaking areas of Africa, though African languages are sung throughout. I don't have a lot of information on this album, but I do know that it sounds great, joyous in fact. The only band I recognize is Etoile De Dakar from Senegal.

Me Bowa Ya is the first track and it is a killer, with the great swinging horn line at the start. Makes you want to hop off the couch and start dancing. It is by Mekongo from Cameroon, which may actually be Mekongo President, the closest name of a group I could find. I'm listening to it now and I'm jerking my head back and forth like the "Night at the Roxbury" brothers from Saturday Night Live. Absolutely stellar.




Massoua Mo is next, by Eba Aka Jerome the Ivory Coast, a sunny seven and a half minute guitar workout with multiple vocalists. One of the real highlights here is Bo Mbanda, by Pablo, from what was then known as Zaire, now Congo. I love the guitar breaks where you have two different interlocking guitar riffs going on at the same time. And again great horn parts and group vocals.



Rounding out the album Kambou Clement from Upper Volta perform Dounougnan, a more toned down dance number with sharply chiming guitar work. Etoile de Dakar (Senegal) perform Jalo, a warm mellow number with great dramatic lead vocals by Youssou N'Dour. The album ends strongly with Moboma by Menga Mokombi which is absolutely beautiful, a wonderful finish to a terrific album.

I'm sorry that I don't know more about this. There are no liner notes to speak of here. I don't know what they are saying, and I don't know the band personnel or singers. But nonetheless this is a record that moves me. I know I see comments in Amazon regarding African pop Cds from expatriate Africans. Almost invariably a person will state, "I grew up with this music, or I used to listen to this on cassette when I was a teenager--I now hear this music again after all these years and I cry (or at least put me in a state of joy)." I can only imagine what that must feel like. All the familiarity, memories, nostalgia for homeland and family and friends. I feel a lot when I hear this music and that's coming from an entirely different and less significant level. It's too bad that this is so very out of print. It probably would be a lot easier to get this on vinyl. But at least for the time being you can at least hear a little bit of this great music right now.