Hello everyone. Hope everyone is safe and sound during these bizarre times. In these times, I pose myself one question. It is not a great but I will ask regardless.
Should be there new versions of great Congolese bands? I am speaking of Le TPOK Jazz and Empire Bakuba. They were under of the two Kings Franco and Pepe Kalle. Franco passed away in 1989 and Pepe Kalle passed away in 1998. Franco's comrade Simaro passed away last year. Pepe Kalle's dear friends Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex are still alive. Some will say yes and others will say no.
Here is my response.
I will say yes. Here is why I think it should happen. Part of my reason is that people are still craving for the musics of OKJ and Empire Bakuba. I mean Franco's son Emongo did manage to get some success with his version in ways that some could not imagine. But Emongo is a business man and he should not have to work too hard especially since he is his own man and he has done very well. I am sure that his father would be proud of him very profoundly as well as his sister Sonya who also has her own business. With Pepe Kalle's family, they are doing well. One of his sons live in Paris with his kids. One daughter of Pepe lives in Chicago with her family and kids. Most notably his son Fiston is also a singer and a member of La Villa Nova of former Werrason singer Fabregas Métis Noir. He is getting success.
Another reason comes from late Djo Mpoyi's son Erick who has formed his own band Djo Mpoyi Mania which works hard to revive old great classics of OK Jazz. Erick Mpoyi is managing this band with help of his manager Helene who is deep lover of Rumba music. He demonstrate that is very possible to revive great classic music that people enjoyed and people like me love to hear right now.
Final reason is that Congolese music scene is limited and they are very few new bands that come out due to many circumstances that I will not have time to explain. I hear people complaining that there is not enough music coming out at all.
These are the reasons why I believe that it's time for new versions of Empire Bakuba and OK Jazz but here is what they need to do to make sure that these bands will be guaranteed success. Before I go to those steps, I must address the great question. Where can these bands be located. I will give the suggested areas.
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Matadi, Bas Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo
Kikwit, Bandundu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Lubumbashi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo
Kindu, Maniema, Democratic Republic of Congo
Kisangani, Haut Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo
Kampala, Uganda
Luanda, Angola
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Kisumu, Kenya
Mombassa, Kenya
Dallas, Texas, United States of America
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
Los Angeles, California, United States of America
New York City, New York, United States of America
Montreal, Canada
Toronto, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Lyon, France
Geneva, Switzerland
Brussels, Belgium
Paris, France and more
The bands would need to choose which location or locations that they will all agree to reside in to make their bands function.
Back to how will these bands have actual success. Here are the steps
1) Know which direction that this band will go under?
2) Establish rules
3) Members agree on which songs that they will perform together
4) Make sure that everyone reads the contracts and make comprises to make sure that everyone will be in peace.
5) Talk to the previous people about the good and bad of the work.
Final step will be very important for each group especially Empire Bakuba. They are very few OKJ folks around but they are many Empire Bakuba folks around most notably Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex. The Empire Bakuba people should speak openly with Papy Tex in particular of advice of how to have a group stable and be in harmony even with the challanges. I mean after all, he was with Dilu and Pepe Kalle for 26 years and he saw it all. So if there is anyone who could help these men, it would be Papy Tex. For the OKJ folks, they can go to Erick Mpoyi since he is a great singer and knows how to do harmony very well. I will give him that. Erick Mpoyi would be the one to give them direction for few times so he can focus on his own band Djo Mpoyi Mania.
But what is important that I want to say is that I do think that new versions of OK Jazz and Empire Bakuba is a good idea and it can do well. If the right things come and good steps are taken, these new versions can bring great memories while the musicians will make their own mark.
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