Information about Zaïko Langa Langa
Zaïko Langa Langa (also written Zaiko Langa Langa or Zaiko Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka) is a popular music group in Congo-Kinshasa, formed in 1969, when Zaire was still called Congo. Let’s find with DocumenTV.
Several famous musicians started their career in this group, influential in the 1970s, like Papa Wemba, Pépé Felly, Evoloko Jocker, Jossart N’yoka Longo, Bimi Ombalé.
Several other groups have come out of this formation, most of them with some success, such as Isifi Lokole, Yoka Lokole, Langa Langa Stars, Choc Stars, The Great Zaiko Wawa, Latin Quarter International, Viva La Musica …
They often have preserved the style, the funk rhythm characteristic of a new generation of Congolese rumba, which has become, in a certain way, the banner of a Congolese youth wanting to emancipate themselves.
Zaiko Langa Langa popular music group in Congo-Kinshasa
The real name of the group Zaïko Langa Langa
The name Zaïko is formed from the name Zaire ya bankɔkɔ, meaning “Zaire of ancestors” in Lingala. Langa Langa is the name of a people in the historic province of Ecuador.
History Zaïko Langa Langa band music
The Zaïko Langa Langa group was formed in 1969 under the name Orchestra Zaïko. Members sound at the time: Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (better known by his later stage name of Papa Wemba), Pépé Felly Manuaku, Olemi Eshar, Mazaza, Anto Evoloko, Jersy Jossart Nyoka Longo, Simeon Mavuela Somo, Teddy Sukani Enoch Zamungana, André Bimi Ombale, Bapius Mwaka, Mashakado Nzolantima and later Gina Efonge Isekofeta, Pablo Bakunde Ilo, Bozi Boziana, etc.
Papa Wemba begins in this group his musical career. He helps to build it, and becomes under the pseudonym of Jules Presley, the leader of the sung parts. He is the oldest member (he is already 20).
According to the historian David Van Reybrouck, this group is the most influential of the 1970s in the Congo4. It adopts a fast pace, funk, abandoning the wind instruments and highlighting the drums and guitar solos.
The group also focuses on dance, in the continuity of Congolese rumba. Their scenes are usually animated by dancers. It is, according to the novelist and musician Sylvain Bemba, quoted by Olivier Herviaux in the newspaper Le Monde, a music of the poor, the rumba, who finally conquered, with this group, the “haves of the city”. The group is popular, especially in “Kinshasa dance clubs, day and night”.
Above all, he puts a certain musical conformism at risk and becomes the standard of a youth, demographically more and more important, who wants to emancipate himself.
Evoloko Joker Lay Gola, considered the most popular member, with the help of other musicians such as Papa Wemba and Pépé Felly Manuaku, would have invented the rhythmic rhythm that is “cavacha”, a popular dance across Central Africa and eastern during the 1970s.
The cavacha became the cement of the Congolese soukous. The group performed in 1974 during the great concert given for the legendary match Mohamed Ali-George Foreman, alongside James Brown and Tina Turner.
Two or three years later, the group begins to divide. Papa Wemba, Evoloko, Mavuela and Bozi left to form Isifi Lokole in 1974 (Isifi being a nod to the acronym for Higher Institute of Idol Formation), then Viva La Musica in 1976.
This departure bore a heavy blow to the orchestra. He continues his journey. It was on this occasion that this orchestra recorded the arrival of the drummer Ilo Pablo, who took the opportunity to make the band adopt a simpler and more streamlined style.
It is also the arrival in this formation of the singer Linkinga Redo. In the late 1970s, the group included Nyoka Longo, Lengi Lenga, Bimi Ombale, Likinga, Evoloko and Bozi Boziana as members, with the musicians Meridjo and Bapius.
In the late 1980s, disagreements within the group atomized the troupe into several formations, but the “Zaiko style” durably marks these new groups.
From 1980 to 1988, Zaiko Langa Langa will release great albums like Non Stop, Tala model exchange, Hé Ngoss, Bongama Kamata position, We win the lawsuit, Nippon Banzai etc …
- In 1986, Zaiko Langa Langa are on tour in Japan, during this tour he recorded Nippon Banzai.
- In 1987, Zaiko Langa Langa recorded the last album before the break-up entitled Undergo the Consequences.
- In 1988, Zaiko Langa Langa split because of leadership appeared a few months before with Nyoka Longo and Lengi Lenga.
- In 1999, before the release of the album Poison, Zaïko Langa Langa is the subject of a documentary by Yves Billon, Zaïko Langa Langa, the taste of work well done6,15.
Bimi Ombale
- Birth name Andre Bimi Ombale
- Also known as Andre Bimi, Bimi Ombale, Mwana Wabi
- Born 21 July 1952
- Kinshasa
- Origin Democratic Republic of Congo
- Died 29 April 2011 (aged 58)
- Kinshasa
- Genres Pop, Soukous, Gospel
- Instruments drums, vocals
- Years active 1969–2011
Bimi Ombale (21 July 1952- 29 April 2011, born Andre Bimi Ombale, also known as Andre Bimi, Bimi Ombale, Mwana Wabi) was a Congolese singer, drummer and songwriter. He was a member of the band Zaiko Langa Langa from 1969 to 1988 and it most successful and prolific songwriter.
Musical history about Bimi Ombale
1968-9: Early years
Ombale was a drummer for the rhythm and blues and pop band Zezes (1968–1969).
1969-80: Zaiko Langa Langa
Main article: Zaiko Langa Langa. Ombale joined Zaiko in 1969, two days before the band first public performance. He was brought in by Vieux Otis, a friend of the founding members as a drummer for the pop section of the group.
After two years in the band Ombale decided to shift both role and genre, changing from drumming to singing and pop music to Soukous. Zaiko’s then-singers Jossart Nyoka Longo, Jules Shungu Wembadio, Anto Evoloko Atshuamo and Simeon Mavuela Somo opposed Omabale singing in the band, ultimately causing him to leave the band.
In 1971 he joined his musical idol Tonny Dee in the band Tabou National. Shortly after Tabou National began performing, Zaiko member DV Muanda asked Ombale to rejoin the band. Ombale would only remain in Tabou National for a few more months before returning fully to Zaiko.
While Ombale was back in Zaiko, tensions still existed between him and the singers, who considered him difficult to work with . Ombale then shifted his focus to songwriting. Bimi Ombale’s first song “Joliba” was recorded in 1971, and received favorable review and heavy airplay. In 1972 he released “Jose-Lina” and “Mwanza” to mixed reviews .
However, this year Zaiko also broke into the mainstream with the song “Consolation” off Efonge Gina, which was awarded best song of the year. By 1973, Zaiko was a successful band on the music charts and revolutionizing the youth music with rhythm Cavacha. Bimi Ombale’s song “Zena” was one of the biggest releases of the year.
In 1974, Anto Evoloko became the frontman of the band. However, Bimi Ombale and fellow member Jossart Nyoka were given less space to perform. The two began rehearsing at Bimi Ombale family home. The result of their collaboration were the acclaimed songs “Mwana Wabi”, “Mizou” and “Mbelengo”.
Rising tensions in Zaiko between the frontman and the instrumentalists led to their decision in 1975 to oust Evoloko and the singers in favour of Ombalie and Nyoka. Ombale became the creative heart of Zaiko, writing numerous songs and fronting the band in Nyoka Longo.
Zaiko continued their success, and many of the former singers returned to the band. However, a developing rivalry between Ombale and singer Mashakado Mbuta over band leadership came to a head at the end of the year during a live performance on Zairian national television. The two singers fought on air for the microphone and refused to sing and dance at each other songs.
Mashakado Mbuta left the band in 1976 to join Yoka Lokole. Un his three years as a singer in Zaiko “Bimi” will write seven songs, third most prolific writer after “Anti Evoloko” and “Jules Shungu” who both have been singers for five years.
With a stable lineup, Ombale entered an artistically fruitful era, as Zaiko released songs of his including “Ima”, “Likamuisi”, “Aziza”, “Moni Amina”, “Amitie”, “Lolita”, “Misolina”, “Cherie b wabi”, “Kinshasa makambo, ” diakina”, “didina”, “youyou” and many more. In five years Bimi Ombale will write over fifteen songs.
1980-8: Tout choc Anti choc Zaiko Langa Langa
At the beginning of 1980, worried that the large number of musicians meant that the band was losing cohesion, Ombale, Nyoka Longo, Teddy Sukami and DV Muanda decided to suspend all the singers and requested all to reapply for their position. During the changes, founding members Pepe Manuaku and Teddy Sukami also left.
To prove they could survive the change, the band was now called Tout choc Anti choc Zaiko Langa Langa. Ombale’s hits from the streamlined lineup included “La blonde and “baby”.
Other Ombale songs released included “Mopaya zoba”, “Baby”, “Elima ngando”, “Sandralina”, “Fanny moke”, and “Nibe ya bomwana”. Ans Bimi Ombale will released part of thé trio ” NYOBIWE” which was a “Bimi Tombale”, ” Nyoka Longo” ans “Papa Wemba” thé hits “Mimi la Rwandaise” ans “Andy Loli”.
The band also toured Europe and Asia. Again ” Bimi” will by far the most prolific songwriter of this era with eight songs in seven years while the band average was of three songs.
“Bimi Ombale” will cement his place as the one man songs factory of Zaiko Langa Langa and all-time most prolific songs writer in the history of Zaiko with over 30 songs in 18 years.
1988-91: Split and Zaiko Familia Dei
In 1988, Zaiko Langa Langa split into the two groups Zaiko Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka and Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei. Bimi Ombale led the latter.
Bimi Ombale led the dissident fraction of Zaiko Langa Langa called Zaiko Familai Dei, from 1988 to 1991. A leadership quarrel between him and his co-leader Ilo Pablo, forced him to leave the band in 1991.
1991-5: Basilique Loningisa
In 1991, Bimi Ombale created his own band Basilique Lonigisa. He requested the support of Karlito Lassa, a member of the successful Congolese band, Choc Stars. Karlito performed in Basilique Loningisa as a guest and featured in all songs and albums released by the band. The band split in 1995.
1995-2011: Frere Andre
In 1995, Bimi Ombale converted to Christianity. He preferred to be known as Frere Andre. He wrote and sang gospel music from this point on until his death in April 2011.
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