Very enjoyable, fun and moving
author: Joe Ross
Songwriter and lead vocalist Samba Mapangala is Congolese by birth, but he has made his career in Kenya for over twenty years and considers that his home. I first became acquainted with Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga when these Congolese and Kenyan musicians brought their rich tapestry of vocals, guitars, rhythm instruments and horns to our summer “Music on the Halfshell” concert series in Roseburg, Oregon. It wasn’t long before the crowd of several thousand were on their feet dancing. Their music is a successful worldwide sound that is simply very enjoyable, fun and moving. The seductive rhythms contain plenty of expressive emotion. Despite social, political and economic challenges at home, the Congolese musicians present original compositions that have straight-forward messages such as Life is Sweet, Neighbors, Call Me, Let’s Plant the Trees, and Let’s Love Each Other. These universal sentiments have broad appeal in a genre known as “soukous” although I’m not that well versed in the complete lyrics as sung in Swahili, Lingala, or French. “Tupande Miti” (Let’s Plant the Trees) also incorporates some English lyrics. This group’s compelling pop sound appeals to broad diverse audiences of indigenous, tribal, national, urban or international audiences.
Recorded in Kenya, France and the U.S. and produced by Samba Mapangala, the album features Orchestra Virunga along with many guest musicians such as Suzanna Owiyo (vocals), Awillo Mike (vocals), Ballou Canta (vocals), Jimmy Mvondo (sax), Syran Mbenza (guitar), Huit Kilos (guitar), Beniko Popolipo (guitar), and John Bashengezi (bass). Mvondo does some fine horn work on “Zanzibar,” a tribute to legendary Tanzanian singer Bi Kidude and the Sauti za Busara Festival. “Jirani (Neighbors)” is a cautionary tale for nosy neighbors, decoratively wrapped Huit Kilos’ melodic guitar lines and Dante Pascuzzo’s bass groove. “Tupande Miti (Let’s Plant the Trees)” was written to recognize Dr. Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement. In 1976, Professor Maathai initiated community-based tree planting that has now grown into a broad-based grassroots organization (Green Belt Movement) whose main focus is poverty reduction and environmental conservation through tree planting. The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize recipient has assisted women in planting more than 40 million trees on community lands including farms, schools and church grounds. Talented multi-instrumentalist John Bashengezi played guitar, bass, percussion (as well as the uncredited harmonica) on the breezy “Tupendane (Let’s Love Each Other).” Another song on the album, “Les Gorilles des Montagnes” was written by Samba Mapangala for the World Wildlife Fund to create awareness about the need to protect gorillas in the Congo’s Virunga National Park. All in all, this East African soukous music has appealing earthiness and simply gets us dancing right into pop-friendly territory. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, Or.)
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Samba Mapangala-Maisha ni Matamu
author: Alpha-Si Kanu
It will be appreciated to say Samba Mapangala is the world,s greatest and this cd has proven itself on several fronts of rating his appropriate skills and perfomance.No regrets in having a copy in my collection.
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