Samba Mapangala and Orchestra Virunga
by Douglas B. Paterson
Zairean
vocalist and band leader Samba Mapangala has been a dominant figure in
East African music since the mid-1970s. Arriving in Kampala, Uganda with his
group, Les Kinois in 1975, they eventually made their way to Nairobi in 1977.
The beginnings of the famous Virunga sound were already evident in their recordings
prior to the breakup of Les Kinois in 1980. Shortly after that, Samba recorded
the now famous Malako recordings in Nairobi with his newly formed Orchestra
Virunga. The Malako LP (now titled Virunga Volcano) was one
of the pioneering releases of the newly emerging world music scene in Europe
in the mid-1980s and an instant favorite. The style was typical of other East
African groups of the time: a lean sound with complex, interlocking guitar lines;
rapid-fire bass; light, fast-paced percussion; with horn or sax overlays. What
was different about Samba and Virunga was the quality of the product. The songs
began with Samba's catchy melodic lines and evolved over a nine or ten minute
period through beautiful vocal harmonies and brilliant guitar and horn soloing.
Samba's voice, even today, is unique among African vocalists for its pleasing
quality and versatility. For World Music editor Simon Broughton, Virunga
Volcano is among the 100 Essential (World Music)
CDs.
Virunga's East African roots are, no doubt, one of the primary factors that
set them apart from other Congolese bands. At the same time, it is perhaps because
of their East African base that they haven't really had a chance to develop
on the world music scene. In the eighties, the band was hampered by work permit
problems (that forced Samba to move to Kampala in 1985), Nairobi's deteriorating
but expensive recording facilities, and Kenya's shrinking live music market
that makes it difficult to keep a large band together. Sadly, in 1993, Samba
gave up on the local night club scene and disbanded the group. Virunga as a
concept continues. In 1995, Samba created a new Virunga release in Paris under
the auspices of Senegalese producer Ibrahim Sylla. That CD, Karibu
Kenya, features some of the top names in Parisian soukous: Diblo
Dibala, Pablo Lubadika, Komba Bellow, Wuta Mayi, Bibi Den's Tshibayi, and Syran
Mbenza. In The summers of 1996 and 1997 Samba toured the USA and UK backed by
members of the Nairobi based group Bora Bora and other friends. The 1997 tour
also featured the late John Ngereza of Les Wanyika as well as the late Fadhili
William of Malaika fame.
Samba's Ujumbe (A Message) from 2001 was recorded in Paris with
some of the great Congolese session musicians based in Europe. The most recent
CD, Vunja Mifupa: Virunga Roots Volume 1, is a collection of recordings
made in the late 80s in Nairobi and Paris. Previously, most of these songs were
only available in limited distribution on cassette (the Vunja Mifupa and Paris-Nairobi
cassettes listed below).
Virunga Roots Volume 2, in preparation, will delve back into
the 1980s for more gems, never before available on CD.
Partial Discography:
Virunga Volcano 1990 (Earthworks, CD) [The 1982 Malako LP plus two songs]
Safari 1988 (Kenyan cassette)
Vunja Mifupa 1989 (CBS Kenya IVA 071, cassette)
Paris-Nairobi 1990 (European cassette)
Feet On Fire 1991(Stern's Africa STCD 1036, CD)
Karibu Kenya 1996 (Sun Music, CD)
Vunja Mifupa 1997 (Lusam 01, CD)
Ujumbe 2001 (Stern's / Earthworks STEW43CD)
Vunja Mifupa Virunga Roots Volume 1 2004 (Samba Mapangala [available
at CDBaby.com])
© 1995-2004 Douglas B. Paterson
June 9, 2004
To contact Douglas Paterson, send your message to DPaterson@aol.com
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