Music from Congo-Kinshasa, compiled by Kees Schuil from his collection of African LPs, featuring Lokassa ya M’Bongo.
Tabu Ley Rochereau formed the orchestra L’African Fiesta National in 1965, and from 1968 to 1978, Lokassa Kasia Denis, who was born in Kinshasa in 1946, played rhythm guitar in this orchestra. In 1978, when the band was on tour in Abidjan, Lokassa and a few other bandmates quit the orchestra. They joined forces with Sam Mangwana, who already was in Mangwana after leaving African Fiesta. They formed the African All Stars. In 1979, they disbanded, and Lokassa settled in Lomé. There, he played with the increasing number of Congolese musicians in exile. He started to call himself Lokassa ya M’Bongo, which means: ‘Lokassa, the man of money’.
In 1981, he recorded an LP, ‘Sama-Sama’, with Zoé Matondo and with Asi Kapéla, who sang. The latter was also the composer of the music and lyricist.
With mainly the same musicians like Asi Kapéla as his singer, Lokassa also recorded the LP ‘Assitou’ in 1981. Now, he was the one writing the music and lyrics.
In 1984, he settled in Paris. He performed as a session musician for singers as Kanda Bongo Man, Abeti Masikini and Pepe Calle.
In 1989, he founded the Soukous Stars. In that same year, he produced the highly successful album ‘Mégamix Volume 1’, he wrote the music and the lyrics. The song ‘Lagos Night’ of this album is a medley of several popular songs by Nigerian singer Prince Nico Mbarga. The songs are: ‘Sweet Mother’, ‘Christiana’, ‘Aki Special’, ‘Stella’, ‘Welenga’, and ‘Oh Death’.
Special thanks to Muziekweb in Rotterdam
And also, special thanks to Barbera Schuil for providing her African LPs.
Playlist:
- African Fiesta National: Easra, 3’23, writer: Rochereau, LP L’African Fiesta National Volume III (1968-1970), 1985, african 360.150
- Asi Kapéla & Zoe Matondo: Sama-Sama, 8’26, writer: Asi Kapéla, LP Sama-Sama, 1981, Édition DISC-ORIENT D00016
- Lokassa ya M’Bongo: Angelique, 9’8, writer: Lokassa, LP Assitou, 1981, DISC ORIENT D.O. 0015
- Lokassa ya M’Bongo: Sabina, 8’24, wrter: Lokassa, LP Assitou, 1981, DISC ORIENT D.O. 0015
- Lokassa & Soukous Stars: Mandeni, 7’23, writer: Lokassa, LP Lokassa ya M’Bongo, 1984, AICODIS AICD 004
- Lokassa & Soukous Stars: Marie, 8’11, writer: Lokassa, CD Megamix Vol.1, 1989, Syllart 38779-2
- Lokassa & Soukous Stars: Lagos night, 14’55, writer: Lokassa, CD Megamix Vol.1, 1989, Syllart 38779-2
