The Soul of Congo - Treasures of the Ngoma label LP edition

by Planet Ilunga

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ruins This and the companion CD are wonderful collections of Congolese Ngoma Label magic. There is so much jubilance in these songs. They make me want to dance until I collapse from exhaustion.

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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
3LP edition:

* 3LP box set with 36 page booklet
* 42 tracks (third LP is exclusive to this version)
* booklet in English & French
* testimonial interviews only to be found in LP-version
* made in collaboration with the estates of Nikis Cavvadias & Alexandros Jéronimidis
* numbered LP-edition
* manufactured by Optimal Media

Includes unlimited streaming of The Soul of Congo - Treasures of the Ngoma label LP edition via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Full Digital Discography

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releases

Get all 10 Planet Ilunga releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Franco Luambo Makiadi Presents Les Editions Populaires (1968-1970), The Soul of Congo - Treasures of the Ngoma label LP edition, The Soul of Congo - Treasures of the Ngoma label (1948-1963), Joseph Kabasele And The Creation Of Surboum African Jazz (1960-1963), Luvumbu Ndoki / Ludiata Nangwi, Pas Un Pas Sans... The Boleros Of O.K. Jazz 1957-77, La Rumba De Mi Vida, Roots From the Congo, and 2 more. , and , .

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1.	G. Edouard na M. Oliveira na baninga na bango – Marie Tchebo 03:32
2.	Adou Elenga, ndeko na ye Mousaidi Louis na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Mokili Ekobaluka 02:58
3.	Mundanda Antoine, baninga ba ye na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Mwana Aboyi Mama 03:07
4.	Raphael Kabangu – Pete na Mosapi 03:09
5.	Trio BOW na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Kombo wa Biso Biteke Suzanne 03:10
6.	Trio BOW na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Voyage ya Bana Ngoma 03:09
7.	Wendo accompagné de Georges Edouard et le Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Ekekeke 03:03
8.	Bukasa Léon, Kalombo Albino na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Bonne Année (Lingala) 03:04
9.	Martha Badibala, Caroline Mpia na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Ba Mbanda Basuani 03:08
10.	M. Oliveira, H. Freitas, G. Edouard – E, Primo ya Wondelela 03:02
11.	Léon Bukasa – Monique wa Baba 03:04
12.	Kalombo Albino accompagné par Bukasa Léon – Bertha Roho Mbaya 03:07
13.	Adou Elenga – Minakwenda Mbele 03:00
14.	Léon Bukasa – Kobeta Mwasi Te 02:53
15.	San Salvador – Umbanzilanga Mumayela 02:57
16.	Kalombo Albino accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Kamungule 02:57
17.	Trio BOW Bukasa-Oliveira-Wendo – Anna Yaya 02:57
18.	Khim Valentino et l’orch. Dynamic Jazz – Sebele 02:57
19.	Tchadé accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Mono Kwame ya Nzola 02:51
20.	M. Oliveira & H. Freitas accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Mobembo ya Cocq 02:56
21.	San Salvador – G. Edouard, M. Oliveira, H. Freitas & Bila accompagné par l’orchestre Beguen Band – Tuwayilanga Kimpwanza 02:57
22.	Groupe de Flutistes Bayeke Lulua Jazz – Fulukayi, Tshisuisa 02:57
23.	Charles Lembe & son orchestre – Suavecito Mambo 02:55
24.	Le bassiste Lasso et l’orchestre Vedette Jazz – Pregunta por Nos 02:50
25.	Mwanga Paul Le Maître Compositeur de la Chanson Kikongo (with Jazz Venus) – Putulukesu Zengele Ndombe 02:57
26.	Mwanga Paul Le Maître Compositeur de la Chanson Kikongo (with Jazz Venus) – Ma Bulu Mankatu Lutima 02:56
27.	L’orchestre La Palma – Yo Keba na Ngai 02:59
28.	Maproco et l’orchestre Vedette Jazz – Maproco Cantar 02:45
29.	Georges Edward na Manuel Oliveira na baninga na bango – Bino Banso Yoka Tokoyemba 03:13	buy track
30.	Luampasi Albert mpangi zandi ye Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – O Mono Mpuku 02:59	buy track
31.	Bukasa Léon, Kalombo Albino na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Bonne Année (Bunanée) 03:05	buy track
32.	Kabangu Raphaël na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Ba Mbanda 03:01	buy track
33.	Léon Bukasa na baninga ba ye – Josephine, Josephine 03:12	buy track
34.	Kaba Joseph, J. D. Malapet, Ed. Ganga na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Vivita-Vivita 03:08	buy track
35.	Léon Bukasa na baninga ba ye – Boni Bokomi Kobanga Biso? 03:09	buy track
36.	Mwanga Paul accompagné par les orchestres Beguen Band & Affeinta Jazz – Yoka Mwanga 02:50	buy track
37.	Le chanteur Yanno et l’orchestre Novelty – Keleno Bala Ntsia, ba Dia ba Mpesse 02:53	buy track
38.	La Beguen Band – Henya 03:02	buy track
39.	Adou Elenga na Groupe Rythmique Ngoma – Watoto wa Migini Yote 02:59	buy track
40.	Léon Bukasa na balunda bende – Bukasa Wakatshimuna 03:03	buy track
41.	Léon Bukasa na balunda bende – Bana Betu Telejayi 02:57	buy track
42.	Trio BOW Bukasa-Oliveira-Wendo – Nani Azali na Mayi 02:57	buy track

about

Video teaser: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtkObGbtAOE&feature=youtu.be

Planet Ilunga, the Brussels-based publisher has, since 2013, produced a series of recordings dedicated to the history of Congolese popular music from artists like Franco & OK Jazz, Docteur Nico, Orchestre Rock-a-Mambo and Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz. For its tenth release and in celebration of its tenth anniversary, the label launches with "The Soul of Congo" its most ambitious project to date: a well-documented and extensive anthology (on 3LP + 3CD) about the illustrious and legendary Congolese music label Ngoma.

The Soul of Congo is a compilation that spans the years from 1948 to 1963 as the Belgian Congo emerged from colonial subjugation into the first flower of Independence. Singers and players came to Congo’s capital Léopoldville, from all over Central Africa — from the streets of Brazzaville on the opposite shore of the Congo river to the vast plateau of Mbanza Congo in Angola, from the mineral rich areas of Lubumbashi (Elizabethville) in the Deep South to the lively docks of Kisangani (Stanleyville) in the northeast, from the rocky wastes of Mbandaka (Coquilhatville) in the West to the majestic forests of Bukavu (Costermansville) in the East.

Léopoldville became a cauldron of musical syncretism between the African rhythms that arrived with these musicians and the European, Caribbean and Cuban tunes that were popular in the big city. The new sounds were recorded for one of the big five Congo labels: Opika, Loningisa, Esengo, Olympia or Ngoma. None of the other Congolese labels better showcased the energy, variety & spirit of this era than the Ngoma label. The label was founded by the Greek Nicolas Jéronimidis in 1948. After his early death in 1951, it was further developed by Nikis Cavvadias and Alexandros Jéronimidis. During its existence, from 1948 until 1971, Ngoma made over 4500 recordings, creating a crucial cultural legacy. Now with Unesco declaring Congolese Rumba as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity as of December 2021, it is fitting they are restored to the ears of the world.

As the Ngoma label flourished, so too did the first big stars of this new sound: Manuel d’Oliveira from San Salvador, Antoine Kolosoy “Wendo’’ from Bandundu and Léon Bukasa from Katanga. The three of them are heavily featured in the Ngoma catalogue and in this compilation. Ngoma also provided a way for female singers, such as Martha Badibala, to rise to fame and inspire other women to dream of a life beyond taking care of the kids and husband. Futhermore, the label was keen to record traditional folkloric music, such as the songs by likembe player Antoine Mundanda. It also looked for fresh talent as far away as Brussels where they recorded Camerounian heartthrob Charles Lembe fronting a fierce quartet on some flashy adapted Cuban Guaracha rhythms. Instrumentalists like Antoine Kasongo (clarinet), Albino Kalombo (sax) and Tino Baroza (guitar) also made their mark through the Ngoma recordings.

Ngoma is also known for releasing Adou Elenga’s hit “Ata Ndele,” that criticized the white colonists. It led to his imprisonment and the song being quickly deleted from the catalogue after its release in 1954 (long sought after, a rare original copy has been found for this compilation). Angolan Paul Mwanga, too, was unstinting in his criticism of the colonials, and he was also active with authors’ rights associations. Frank Lassan was a singer who brought the romantic style of French crooners to Congolese popular culture, while guitar wizard Manoka De Saïo or “Maitre Colon Gentil” were flamboyant popular figures in the nightclub scene, captured on disc. Guitar prodigies like Antoine Nedule “Papa Noel” or Mose Se Sengo “Fan Fan” cut their teeth as teenagers in studio bands. The band names changed rapidly — Beguen Band, Jazz Mango, Jazz Venus, Dynamic Jazz, Affeinta Jazz, Mysterieux Jazz, Orchestre Novelty, Rumbanella Bande, Vedette Jazz, La Palma, Negrita Jazz — all of them are heard here.

Dedicated record collectors came together to make this compilation possible. From the USA, Belgium, Japan, France, Morocco and The Netherlands, these generous fans of the music have pooled their collections for the compilation, assembled and annotated by Alastair Johnston who runs the Muzikifan website from California. He dedicates this release to Flemming Harrev from the reference website afrodisc.com who passed away in 2020. Legendary but unheard songs were tracked down, some emerging from dead stock in a forgotten Tanzanian record store. Experts who have made previous compilations were solicited for their advice and recommendations; liner notes, graduate theses, African periodicals, blogs and documents by authorities such as Jean-Pierre Nimy Nzonga, Sylvain Konko, Gary Stewart, Manda Tchebwa, and Michel Lonoh were scoured for clues.

There are 69 songs on the 3CD set and 42 on the 3LP set. Two of the LPs are distilled from the 3CD set, while the third “bonus” LP" has a different selection of songs by Léon Bukasa and others. While this is unusual, we felt there was so much great material, the vinyl collectors would enjoy an extra album of out-takes from the shortlist that was originally over four hours in length.

credits

released October 6, 2023

Compilation, notes & design: Alastair M. Johnston
General editor, reissue producer, LP track selection & licensing: Bart Cattaert
Editorial assistants: Sylvain Konko, Charlotte Grabli, Charlotte Mavandalt
French translation & proofing: Charlotte Mavandalt
Lingala & Kiswahili transcription & translation: Jerome Ogola, Chris Ocamringa
Kikongo translation: Mbumba Solo Mike, Samuel Malonga
Espagnol transcription & text advisor: Alan Brain
Testimonial interviews & advisors: Henri Ossebi, Sylvain Konko, Dizzy Mandjeku, Lágrima Ntondele D’Oliveira, Félix Manuaku Waku, João Baptista Da Costa, Georges Antippas, Charlotte Grabli, Paul Cavvadias, Christian Ongoba, Clément Ossinonde, Gary Stewart, Placide Mabengo, Wolfgang Bender, Vincent Luttman

Audio restoration & mastering: Michael Kieffer
Lacquer cut: Michael Kuhn (Manmade Mastering)
Additional 78 rpm audio transfers: Pieter de Wagter (EQuuS)
Contributors 78 rpm recordings: Michael Kieffer, Flemming Harrev, Bart Cattaert, Stefan Werdekker, Yoshiki Fukasawa, Jonathan Ward, Alex Lesage, David Manet, Alan Brain, Christian Van den Broeck, Thomas Henry, Ziya Ertekin

Authorized by the estates of Alexandros Jéronimidis and Nikis Cavvadias.
Copyright © 2023 Planet Ilunga

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about

Planet Ilunga Brussels, Belgium

Planet Ilunga is an independent Belgian record label focusing on music that is at first sight untranslatable. It specialises in archiving, documenting and sharing the “Rumba Lingala” sound from the fifties and sixties from both the Congos. Planet Ilunga wishes to contribute to restoring the rich Congolese music archive, in the first place through high quality vinyl records and extensive booklets. ... more

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