SAMBA MAPANGALA & ORCHESTRA VIRUNGA: Virunga Roots Volume 1

Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga

Virunga Roots Volume 1

© 2004 Samba Mapangala (829757751429)

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Brilliant African pop and dance music from the golden voice of East Africa. Many of Virunga's greatest hits, rare and previously unavailable outside of Africa.

notes

Since its debut in 1981, Orchestra Virunga has delighted fans in East Africa and beyond with its uplifting style of rumba music. Warming hearts and drawing listeners to the dance floor, the sounds of Virunga continue to entertain us in the new millenium.

Bandleader and lead vocalist Samba Mapangala is pleased to present this compilation of Virunga hits of the '80s. From the chart-busting VUNJA MIFUPA, to the mutuashi number NTUMBA, this collection is sure to rekindle fond memories of the golden era of East Africa's top dance band of the '80s and '90s.

Listen, dance and enjoy...but save some energy for Volume 2!

"Africa Dance," "Ntumba," "L'Argent" and "Losako" were recorded in Nairobi, 1988, with Virunga's Kenyan lineup.

"Vunja Mifupa," "Tolinga Virunga," "Belle Femme," and "Marina" recorded at Studio Orano, Paris, 1989, with instrumental backing by the Quatre Etoiles.

reviews

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  • Virunga Roots Vol 1
    author: Mr Yousaf Malik

    I recently purchased this album after listening to brief sample downloads and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. It is probably now in my top 5 all time favourite albums. The music is so uplifting with amazing harmonies. All 8 tracks are superb but track 5 in particular is just magical. I just love it so much! Please let me know when Volume 2 is likely to be in the pipeline. Yousaf in UK

  • Memories of Home
    author: African woman

    This CD is fantastic!!! I just came across the website while searching for african music. Was reluctant about ordering but boy I'm I happy that I did. The CD got here so fast and in great packaging! Very impressed with service. I have played it so much I'm scared that I will kill it. Actually contemplating buying a back up copy!!! Get it and throw a party over the holidays!!!! My friends and I will be Vunjaring Mifupa this xmas on the dance floor!

  • Interesting beats!
    author: Baby Phat

    Wow! This CD remined me of Kenya since I am in the United States, we used to listen to it alot. I liked vunja mifupa the best, it makes you learn something. Good job Samba Mapangala!

  • Fantastic Virunga Music, Fantastic CD Baby service
    author: Graham Johnson

    I first heard Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga on the Virunga Volcano CD and was very pleased to find another. Wonderful energetic music from East Africa. Thanks Doug Paterson and CD Baby.

  • This was and is it!!!!
    author: George Best2

    I bought this tape ( 1990s -there were no CDs) We called condoms CDs. I stumbled on it in the internet and still wanted to buy it even for ten times the price quoted. This vunja mifupa thing should be in the schoool karukalam - me thinks!!!!!

  • Great job
    author: Maureen

    The CD arrived on time or even earlier than expacted.well packed and in good shape.Thanks alot and keep the good job up.

  • IT WAS SO NICE
    author: AUGUSTINE

    The cd was carefuly and professionaly handled packed very well. It came on time, good condition and I DO LIKE IT. The service is excellent, trust me...cdbaby leads infront of amazon and ebay! Aluta continua! keep the service up!

  • super fast shipment just as they said it will be A++++++
    author: jeff

    Great site and excellent CD good communication speedy transaction; will certainly look here when shopping around. Thanks a million

  • CD Baby has Superb Service and this CD is a Gem!
    author: Anthony Lukindo

    I knew of the music before. This was during my wedding in 1986 . So this CD has a special meaning. Nontheless, the shopping experience at CD baby is un-matched by any other I've tried online. The digital quality of the recorded music is also great!

  • Songs were worked to make people feel the music essence
    author: Robain Massaki

    Behind the music we can feel a great work to give the public the best. All the songs are really inspired and every one can find on this cd his kind of music. For me this cd is one of his best, if not the best.

  • great messages.
    author: liz

    "this cd is not only great for dancing but has great messages. songs such as "vunja mifupa" wow!. overall just great music.

  • author: HUGUES
  • Going down memory lane- one word- Awesome!
    author: Njuguna

    This is the music we I grew up to back in Kenya. It has a way of warming your blood and begging you to hit the floor. Samba Mapangala and Orchestra Virunga- the name is forever!

  • This is simply great dance music!
    author: Bjorn-Erik Hanssen

    Maybe it is because this was the kind of music I was first acquainted with living in East Africa in the beginning of the 1990's, maybe it is because of Samba Mapangala's clear and lively voice or the sophistication with which this music is always performed: Anyway, I just love it. The music got a lot of airplay at for instance Radio Tanzania and it was heard everywhere, together with other guitar based soukous/kwassa kwassa like Kanda Bongo Man. This CD is comprised of recordings made by Virunga in the 1980's, half of the sessions in Nairobi where the group was based, and the other half in Paris. The sound quality is excellent. Virunga's hits "Vunja mifupa" and "Mtumba" are included. The first is as representative of the best soukous songs of the period as any smash hit by Bongoman or Pepe Kallé, it is just magnificent. "Mtumba" gives fine variation to the entire set of 8 songs, with its more funky or jazzy rhythm. Virunga has always presented very fine guitarists, several of them are found here; in the Nairobi sessions Bavon Masudi and Django, in Paris Syran Mbenza and Bopol Mansiamina, to mention some of them. These sessions work well toghether on this CD, the Paris versions with a slightly slicker sound, (synth added), the Nairobi sessions with a saxophone row. Maybe Virunga over the years has developed an even more mature sound. But the energy of Virunga in this period, and at the same time the band's laidback perfection, can hardly be surpassed. This is simply great dance music.

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