This dream trio should have been in Grand Zaiko and it is so unfortunate that it never happened in Grand Zaiko. This dream trio should have came and got together to make great melodies as three singers. I am speaking of three former members of Grand Zaiko who were Adamo Ekula, Defao and Shimita. These men are important in discussion of Generation Zaiko. Defao and Shimita are princes of Soukous music while Adamo was the milk of singing. His vocals are too much for me. I think these men should have a trio song on a Pepe Felly album. Here is why? Because these are the men that managed to impress people like Nyoka Longo. They were his singers. I wish Pepe Felly would have gotten these men to work together on a beautiful song where their voices would have molded well together. After all, Shimita and Defao sounded together when they sang together in Grand Zaiko. Also they did two songs on Dally Kimoko's solo album Just listen how good they sounded together
BTW I will do my own post on Kin Night about Defao and Shimita on YouTube soon. More importantly look at Adamo Ekula and Shimita in this song, Ma Bibi. Shimita and Adamo connected so well that other singers had to put in their place Listen here
BTW Shimita loved this song of Adamo that he decided to remix 2014 with the voices of Djo Nickel (Nyoka Longo copycat) and Desouza Santu as Djeffar Lukombo of Afrisa. Hear it here
Finally, I got something from Adamo Ekula himself. I asked him if he had sung with Defao, and he said yes and then he got me this song that he did with Defao and it sounds amazing. It is called Hondo Cava Adamo Ekula et Defao chantent Hondo Cava
Oh my it sounds so good. I mean too good. Because these two men were on point with their voices. It reminds of Nyboma and Pepe Kalle. Sadly only two songs contain voices of Adamo Ekula and Defao together. They should have done more music together. They would have been a better duo than Nyboma and Pepe Kalle. Adamo would be the Nyboma type and Defao would be the Pepe Kalle type. BTW Defao sounds similar to Pepe Kalle, so it is no surprise there in that sense. Fortunately these men are alive. I am crossing my fingers for a Grand Zaiko reunion with only these men and no else. No Djeffar Lukombo nor Djo Nickel. I want only Defao alongside Adamo Ekula and Shimita.
We have a great album or LP from two legendary musicians that have ever came in Congo and the whole great Africa. Well I am speaking of two singers who once grace the time. I am talking about Mr. Madilu Bialu System "Grand Ninja" and Mr. Nyboma Canta "Canto". These two singers are in my opinion one of the greatest singers in their generation.
The interesting about these two men are that they were part of the new wave of Congolese. It was that it began with former OK Jazz saxophonist and former Veve leader Verckys. He began getting some youth talent around the Kinshasa music scene. This new wave would eventually include people like Nyboma, Madilu, Nzaya Nzayadio, Nyoka Longo, Evoloko, Bozi Boziana, Papa Wemba, Pepe Kalle, and some others.
However during the 1970s, Nyboma had a lot of success and Madilu at the other end was just another name. Nyboma was in bands like Bella Bella, Lipua Lipua, and Les Kamale just making gold. Madilu had a good band in Bakuba Mayopi but that went nowhere and then tried a failed band Pamba Pamba with Bella Bella's own Soki Vangu.Nyboma managed to make great songs like Andoya, Mbuta, and others to think of. Madilu at the other end had one memorable song called Pamba Pamba and that was about it.
But in the 1980s in my opinion, Madilu had more fame than Nyboma. According to some music historians, Nyboma had began to be lost with going to West Africa with the band African All Stars. Nyboma tried to remake Les Kamale but that was so shortlived. Nyboma only got a revival in my view in his career when he joined 4 Etoiles with Syran Mbenza, Bopol and former OK Jazz singer Wuta Mayi. Madilu would find his own star when he sang the song NON with Grand Maitre Franco in 1983. From there, Madilu became the front man of OK Jazz. He made impact on songs like Pesa Position, Mamou, Mario, and Boma Ngai, Ngai na Boma Yo To Bomana. In addition, Madilu introduced a dance which in my view should never came in the first place. That was the dance Mayeno. This dance was first heard of Boma Ngai, Ngai na Boma Yo To Bomana which happened to have Franco on it and I don't think this dance suited Franco well. This dance eventually consumed OK Jazz and even Franco got himself into this dance as well. This dance became pretty official after Franco died in 1989.
Now all the history and opinion of mine cross into this great LP. This Lp that I am into is called Stop Feu Rouge. This LP is a absolute masterpiece of course with the dance Mayeno which apparently became very popular, no longer just in OK Jazz but almost everyone felt this dance. But the song it begins with is the song Stop Feu Rouge which I notice the best Afrisa singer Pompon Kuleta. His voice was felt as well as Nyboma, and Aime Kiwakana. I mean the song just gets you to the beat especially Nyboma and Madilu voices consume you. Then comes the song Magali which I love because Madilu just commands that song. It is a great rumba song with some important passion. I love it very much and I think others should hear this beautiful song. We deal with Keva which belongs to Nyboma because he once again, his soft and important voice in this song and with Dally Kimoko playing his guitar, we got something unique. In my opinion, the best song of this LP is KEVA.
However the song that was partially responsible for the legend of Madilu was the song Voison. Why this song as oppose to Magali. Well it is because this song has Madilu commanding the song and the dance Mayeno. Actually this song, my parents love to death. This song just brings you joy with the voice of Madilu because he is able to maintain his great vocals but also be serious. Of course, we have a little entertainment of Odette. That is so funny to me. I like this song too but not like my parents. TRUST ME. This song is the one I would definitely recommend to more older people like my parents.
This was the first time that actually Nyboma and Madilu though they have been close friends for some time. But after this masterpiece LP, on almost every Madilu work, Nyboma was involved. In one Kekele Cd with Nyboma, there was a song with Madilu. I argue that if this LP never occurred, I doubt Nyboma and Madilu would ever sang together. Just my opinion.
We are still in the Women's History Month and here I decided to make another post to a female artist. But this female artist is not from America. She is a popular artist in Africa (pacifically Congo). I am speaking about Mbilia Bel. She was born in 1959 from Democratic Republic of Congo (Belgain Congo). Mbilia Bel always had some musicial abilities in her. She began her music career as back singer for Abeti Masikini and Sam Mangwana. But Mbilia Bel really got her fame started when she was discovered by Tabu Ley in 1980. She would soon become Tabu Ley's valuable duet partner. Mbilia Bel's first record was "Mpeve Ya Longo" which is Kikongo version of HOLY SPIRIT. This song made Mbilia Bel go to major stardom. Then she got another song called Eswi Yo Wapi. That song was her banging record. But her career highlight was the song Nairobi which was very popular in Kenya that even Kenya president at that time allowed other songs to be played there. Also the man who composed the song Tabu Ley. What a genius song. Thanks to Mbilia Bel value to Afrisa International helped this band become a challanger (truly) to TPOK Jazz of Franco. We witnessed the duo competition. We had Franco & Madilu vs. Mbilia Bel & Tabu Ley. This made a perfect Congolese Music Scene. But Mbilia Bel's relationship soon faded when she had a baby with him and Faya Tess joined Afrisa. This probably led Mbilia Bel leaving Afrisa in 1988 and began her solo career. But Mbilia Bel's solo career has had mixed results. Her popular albums are Welcome and Phenomen. She had calibrated with some people like Rigo Star, Lutumba Simaro, and Pepe Kalle. She released her latest album in 2010 called Diva. It had some guests like Dally Kimoko, Beniko, and Nyboma. I love Mbilia Bel, and I apperciate her voice and I just wish more people knew Mbilia Bel.
