Return of rumba maestro

By Peter Ingolo and Stephen Ogongo

Rumba maestro Samba Mapangala is back home after an overseas sojourn.

Mapangala, who started the year with the release of a digital-only album and a series of high-profile performances, is known for his catchy tunes.

Recently, his US-based Virunga band performed at one of President Obama’s inauguration balls in Washington DC. This was an honour considering that it was a by-invitation-only gala.

The event was co-hosted by the Kenyan Government, African Diplomatic Corps, African Union, African Professionals in Washington DC and the Corporate Council on Africa.

The digital-only album, Samba Mapangala and Virunga: Live on Tour, will be followed by a CD release later in the year.

Be prepared for plenty of nyama choma." Mapangala and his Virunga band have been a dominant force in East African music since the mid-1970s. From DRC, he first set base in Kampala, Uganda, with Les Kinois group in 1975. They eventually made their way to Nairobi in 1977.

Virunga Live on Tour is Samba’s first ever recording of live shows, bringing in all the energy and unique emotions experienced while entertaining fans in US and Canada.

While the LP features some of Samba’s past greatest hits, performance by new musicians to different audiences allows him to re-energise and re-invent them.

The LP incorporates reactions from the audience and contains rhythms never heard before. In the summer of 2007, Samba toured Canada and the US for the first time in 10 years before heading for the WOMAD festival in England.

Virunga’s show at Yoshi’s Jazz Club in Oakland, Carlifonia — a club with great acoustics and a devoted audience for African music — was one of the tour highlights and was captured directly from the soundboard for continued enjoyment and appreciation. The band on stage that night was composed of an all-star cast of Congolese musicians. The digital LP features a selection of performances that night.

Virunga Live on Tour was edited and mastered by sound technician Douglas Paterson and is available for download.

Masterpiece compositions

The LP features: Sungura (Hare) — original studio recording is available from Feet on Fire album; Siri (Secret) — from the Ujumbe album; Malako (Last Wish) — Samba’s masterpiece signature song, originally released in 1982 in Kenya, on the Virunga Volcano album; Marina (A love song) — original available on Virunga Roots Vol 1; and Adija (Advice to a young girl) — from the Song and Dance album.

The new recording confirms that even on stage, Samba never forgets to educate as he entertains his fans. In Sungura, he tells the story of the hare and the tortoise, showing the slow and steady wins the race.

In Siri, he reminds couples to be always ready to ask for forgiveness and to forgive. He warns them to be careful with friends who are never happy when other people’s families are doing well. They’ll always look for ways of planting trouble.

In Adija, Samba encourages young girls to concentrate on their studies. "Clear your studies and become self-reliant," he says. He also warns them to be careful with men who will do everything possible to take them to bed then disappear.

obama song

The LP also features a bonus track Obama Ubarikiwe (Obama be blessed). Samba composed this song in honour of President Obama. It begins with a prayer asking God to bless Obama, before leaving room for instrumentals dominated by saxophone and guitar rhythms. There is a short rap interlude performed by 14-year-old Fanaka Ndege. This is followed by Samba’s Kiswahili lyrics: "Obama, leadership is a gift from God, and you have it. Please help to bring peace, change and hope to all Americans and the world. We love you!"

You can listen to snippets of the LP and obtain a copy from http://cdbaby.com/cd/mapangala6

Part of this article, by Stephen Ogongo, was published in News Africa (www.africa-news.eu)