Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos

by Gary Stewart

Overview

There had always been music along the banks of the Congo River—lutes and drums, the myriad instruments handed down from ancestors. But when Joseph Kabasele and his African Jazz went chop for chop with O.K. Jazz and Bantous de la Capitale, music in Africa would never be the same. A sultry rumba washed in relentless waves across new nations springing up below the Sahara. The Western press would dub the sound soukous or rumba rock; most of Africa called in Congo music.

Born in Kinshasa and Brazzaville at the end of World War II, Congon music matured as Africans fought to consolidate their hard-won independence. In addition to great musicians—Franco, Essous, Abeti, Tabu Ley, and youth bands like Zaiko Langa Langa—the cast of characters includes the conniving King Leopold II, the martyred Patrice Lumumba, corrupt dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, military strongman Denis Sassou Nguesso, heavyweight boxing champs George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, along with a Belgian baron and a clutch of enterprising Greek expatriates who pioneered the Congolese recording industry.

Rumba on the River presents a snapshot of an era when the currents of tradition and modernization collided along the banks of the Congo. It is the story of twin capitals engulfed in political struggle and the vibrant new music that flowered amidst the ferment.

For more information on the book, visit its other online home at rumbaontheriver.com—an impressive resource.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781859843680
Publisher:	Verso Books
Publication date:	11/17/2003
Pages:	452
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Gary Stewart is a writer who has lived and worked in Africa. His articles on African and Caribbean music have appeared in numerous publications including The Beat, Option, and West Africa. He is the author of Breakout: Profiles in African Rhythm and Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos—for more information on the latter, visit rumbaontheriver.com.

Table of Contents

	Prologue: A mighty sound: Mobutu and the musicians, 1997	1
1	Difficult delivery: Bowane, Leopold II, Stanley, Brazza, Kamba, Feruzi, and Wendo, 1946 and before	3
2	Why don't you make a record? Olympia, Ngoma, Opika, and Loningisa, 1946-1950	23
3	The brains of the music: Jhimmy, Kabasele, and African Jazz, 1950-1955	34
4	In need of a name: Essous, Franco, and O.K. Jazz, 1955-1956	49
5	A change in mentality: Kasavubu, Lumumba, Rock'a Mambo, O.K. Jazz, and Orchestre Bantou, 1957-1959	60
6	Celebrations and sorrows: Kasavubu, Lumumba, African Jazz, and O.K. Jazz, 1960-1961	83
7	Congo music: Orchestre Bantou and Ry-Co Jazz, 1960-1963	101
8	Money changes everything: African Jazz, African Fiesta, Moise Tshombe, O.K. Jazz, and Orchestre Bantou, 1963-1965	110
9	Revolution: Mobutu, Franco, Bavon Marie Marie, Kwamy, Docteur Nico, Rochereau, and Essous, 1965-1967	122
10	Dances and disorder: Docteur Nico, Rochereau, Sam Mangwana, and Franco, 1968-1969	135
11	Rhythm of the time: Franco, Verckys, Bella Bella, Zaiko Langa Langa, Bavon Marie Marie, Franklin Boukaka, and Rochereau, 1969-1970	148
12	The name game: Veve, Trio Madjesi, Afrisa, Fiesta Sukisa, O.K. Jazz, and Bantous de la Capitale, 1971-1973	169
13	The guys have it: Abeti, Franco, and Mobutu, 1973-1974	188
14	What goes up...: Mobutu, George Foreman, Muhammad Ali, Tabu Ley, Bella Bella, and Zaiko Langa Langa, 1974-1976	206
15	...Must come down: Abeti, M'Pongo Love, Papa Wemba, Franco, and Tabu Ley, 1975-1978	219
16	Exodus: Bantous de la Capitale, Mobutu, African All Stars, Verckys, Koffi Olomide, and Docteur Nico, 1977-1980	235
17	Paris: Franco, Pamelo Mounk'a, Bopol, Pablo, M'Pongo Love, Kosmos, Kanda Bongo Man, and Les Quatre Etoiles, 1979-1982	254
18	Article 15: Kabasele, Sam Mangwana, Franco, Tabu Ley, Mbilia Bel, and Docteur Nico, 1980-1985	276
19	You can't tell the players without a program: Empire Bakuba and Clan Langa Langa, 1979-1985	300
20	Crossroads: Tshala Muana, Abeti, Rigo Star, Les Quatre Etoiles, Loketo, Kanda Bongo Man, Tabu Ley, and Mbilia Bel, 1985-1988	314
21	Get out your program again: Clan Langa Langa, Koffi Olomide, and Empire Bakuba, 1985-1989	333
22	Matters of life and death: Bantous de la Capitale and O.K. Jazz, 1985-1989	350
23	The gray nineties: O.K. Jazz, Wenge Musica, Bantous de la Capitale, Soukous Stars, Abeti, Papa Wemba, and Tabu Ley, 1989 and after	369
	Notes	393
	Bibliography	404
	Select discography	410
	Acknowledgments	416
	Index	419

Editorial Reviews

The first really comprehensive account of the development of an African pop style.”—Times Literary Supplement

“The most comprehensive account written in English of the rich history of music from the Belgian Congo, Zaire, DR Congo, French Congo or simply Congo”—Charlie Gillet

“For fans and scholars alike, it is a godsend to have so much history packed into a single volume.”—Boston Phoenix

“A fascinating and tantalizing celebration”—Herald

“[Stewart’s] love and understanding of Congolese music is strikingly evident throughout his book. Few can match his encyclopedic knowledge.”—International Journal of African Historical Studies.

“[A]n enthralling dissemination of how changing times and ancient traditions blended to create a distinctive type of music along the Congo River.”—Wisconsin Bookwatch

“[Stewart] details the evolution of both the music and politics of the area and his accessible writing makes Rumba an important addition to the bookshelf of serious students of Afropop, African history, and popular music in general. The book is rigorously researched and dense with facts, which Stewart lays out in a readable style.”—Seattle Weekly

“[Stewart] has a way of describing a song that makes you want to stop reading and immediately cue up a forgotten track.”—Bob Tarte, The Beat

“Stewart pinpoints key elements in the music’s history, while neatly summarising broader historical events as a preamble to the genesis and growth of a onetime contender for the title of the world’s best dance music.”—Richard Henderson, The Wire

“[S]uperbly presented and eloquently written ... extensively researched.”—Martin Sinnock, Songlines

“Attention all sapeurs and devotees de la musique soukous or rumba rock. Here comes a handsome 400 page tome that celebrates the music of the Congo, from both banks of the river ... Gary Stewart is a deeply knowledgeable and passionate narrator.”—Straight No Chaser

"[A] gem...an encyclopaedic portrait of the flowering of Congolese music in Brazzaville and Kinshasa — or Léopoldville, as it was originally known...Stewart’s story is not just about music. It is also a depiction of the debilitating social, economic and political environment that is the canvas for this portrait." —Standard Media

From the Publisher

Stewart’s love and understanding of Congolese music is strikingly evident throughout this book. Few can match his encyclopedic knowledge.

International Journal of African Historical Studies

The first really comprehensive account of the development of an African pop style.

Times Literary Supplement

The most comprehensive account written in English of the rich history of music from the Belgian Congo, Zaire, DR Congo, French Congo or simply Congo.

Charlie Gillett

For fans and scholars alike, it is a godsend to have so much of this history packed into a single, well-indexed volume.

Boston Phoenix

A fascinating and tantalizing celebration.

Herald

The most comprehensive account written in English of the rich history of music from the Belgian Congo...

Charlie Gillet

Rumba on the River is far more readable than many books of its type. The evident range of research is impressive, and Stewart was clearly taken into the confidence of many important musicians. If sheer weight of detail from these oral sources frequently overburdens the book, it does give it authenticity—a sense of people engaged in a collective and passionate purpose, driven forward by historical forces beyond their control.
—The Times Literary Supplement

Mark Hudson