Lingala group flies high after launch of album

SP Band perform during the launch of their debut album, Confirmation, recently. [Photo: Govedi Asutsa/Standard]

By Caroline Nyanga

Barely two months since the launch of their debut seven-track album, Confirmation, Nairobi-based Congolese SP Band has been invited to perform in Dubai.

The band’s manager Ayubu Fibelle describes the planned trip as a chance of a lifetime and also an endorsement of their music.

“It is a great milestone for SP Band and a rare privilege to perform beyond Kenya. It is also a chance to gauge where our music stands internationally,” says SP’s band manager Ayubu Fibelle.

The band, which comprises Congolese and local singers, is currently among the fastest-rising music outfits in the country, with tracks from their debut album already enjoying top ratings.

Indeed, those who attended the launch of their album at Nairobi’s DeepWest Resort Club, agree that the band’s tantalising offering of Lingala and rumba tunes exceeded their expectations.

Riveting performances 

Some of the songs in the album include Confirmation, Deception and Watoto wa Mungu among others.

The event also featured riveting performances by popular benga musician Dola Kabarry and high-flying traditional Luhya group, Webuye Jua Kali.

The Robert Lomani-led 12-member group also used the opportunity to celebrate their two years in the music business.

Done in various languages including Lingala, English, Swahili, Zulu and Nigeria’s Igbo, the album blends a variety of styles and beats to produce a unique sound.

“Ours is simply an international style targeting all age groups and people from diverse backgrounds,” says Lomani.

Lomani says the launch of the album, Confirmation, is an affirmation the band is a force to reckon with in the local music scene.

“Music is a long and tedious journey which requires patience, perseverance, hard work and determination to come up with a product that will be appreciated by all,” adds Lomani, who says they go for rehearsals thrice a week.

Their ability to sing in different languages has also helped shore their popularity. “What makes us unique is the fact that our songs address issues affecting the entire East African region,” he says.

The band’s manager Ayubu Fibelle says despite the many challenges the band has had to contend with, they have always worked as a team to achieve their objectives.

“Discipline has always been our motto considering the bad reputation most locally based Congolese musicians have. The fact that we have a number of promising Kenyan musicians in the band has also set us apart,” adds Ayub.

While five of the band members initially used to ply their trade in Kampala, the rest came directly to Kenya from Congo.

Formidable team

“Back home, it is not easy to penetrate the music market as you have to compete with a litany of talented artistes. This, coupled with the raging war in some parts of the country, has made many musicians move to other countries,” explains Lomani.

As fate would have it, Lomani, who initially used to appear for another Nairobi-based Congolese band, met Ayub Fibelle during one of their concerts and the two mooted the idea of forming a band.

Lomani would later go on to assemble a formidable team of talented musicians with the help of Ayub and Kenyan music promoter Mama Serah Wanjiku, who is the proprietor of Swank Productions. Incidentally, the name SP is short form for Swank Productions. Lomani explains that most Congolese prefer living and performing in Kenya, which he says is their second home.

“Unlike other countries, Kenyans appreciate music from different cultures,” he says.

The group that is currently based at Garden Square Club Nairobi where they perform every Friday and Saturday are grateful to their fans for their support.

“Getting people to appreciate your music is probably the hardest part and the biggest challenge for any artiste,” says Lomani.