Jan 25/05
And a Franco three
After yesterday’s slow-jam we need to up the tempo a bit. Here’s the promised third and last track of my Franco mini-series, Lisanga Ya Ba Nganga off 1983’s Omona Wapi.
Yesterday we featured Franco with fellow ex-OK Jazz member Sam Mangwana. Today we’ll have a listen to Franco with another one of his collaborateurs extraordinaire, Tabu Ley Rochereau of Africa Jazz fame. The production is a little off but the energy and musicality of these two guys shines in this soukous track. Nice harmonies over some electric guitar this time, and that rhythm you’re hearing is a classic Zairean rumba-obenda.
As this is the last day of Franco posts, it’s worth mentioning that Franco, born Luambo Makiadi, sadly died at the age of 51 in 1989. Though I don’t believe it was ever made public many believe that he died as a result of AIDS. Regardless, he left us with a massive legacy, loads of great music and many musicians that he personally trained or influenced. He is still seen as the most important fixture of contemporary Congolese music and will be for some time.
Franco and Rochereau – Lisanga Ya Ba Nganga
Tags: congo, franco
I thought it was pretty well-known and officially acknowledged that he died of AIDS, especially after making a big splash with “Attention na SIDA”.
BTW, don’t you think it’s time for someone to remake “Attention na SIDA”, maybe in a shorter version that can get some radio airplay.
During a television interview a few weeks before he died, Franco himself said that he was suffering from Aids. It was very sad to see him so weak. I still have the video of this interview.
Wow. I wasn’t exactly sure, so thank you, Gertrud and Mike, for the informative comments.
Another fine track from a much missed giant of the african music scene. I think I have this album already- I’ll have to go and check.
[...] e à Demba Camara. ps- Three more reposts today: Stella Chiweshe, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and Franco & Rochereau. I won’t be doing reposts very often and they̵ [...]
Just discovered your fantastic blog today and wow, what a gold mine! Franco has to be one of my all time favorite musicians of any genre and was delighted to find this soulful and pathos-filled track with Mangwana. Why his huge catalogue languishes in obscurity is a huge mystery to me.
Thanks for this, and your other postings of this fine, fine music.
Steverino
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