Orchestra Super Mazembe was a popular band based in

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

playing Lingala (

Soukous Soukous (from French '' secousse'', "shock, jolt, jerk") is a genre of dance music from Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s, becoming known for its fast dance rhythms and intricate guitar improv ...

) music. The band had roots in Super Vox, a band formed in 1967 in

Zaire Zaire (, ), officially the Republic of Zaire (french: République du Zaïre, link=no, ), was a Congolese state from 1971 to 1997 in Central Africa that was previously and is now again known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zaire was, ...

and led by Nashil Pichen Kazembe, Mutonkole Longwa Didos. The band moved to

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...

in 1974 and changed its name to Orchestra Super Mazembe. Their biggest hit was "Shauri Yako", a cover song originally performed by Nguashi Ntimbo and Festival Du Zaire. Other popular songs included "Samba", "Bwana Nipe Pesa" and "Kassongo". The group was disbanded in 1985. Super Mazembe is considered one of the golden era of Kenyan

Lingala music Soukous (from French '' secousse'', "shock, jolt, jerk") is a genre of dance music from Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s, becoming known for its fast dance rhythms and intricate guitar improvi ...

acts alongside

Les Mangelepa Les Mangelepa is a musical group from Kenya. It is considered as one of the golden era of Kenyan Lingala music acts alongside Super Mazembe, Baba Gaston and Samba Mapangala Samba Mapangala is a Congolese singer and bandleader who has been based ...

Baba Gaston Baba and similar words may refer to: Places * Baba mountain range, also known as ''Koh-i-Baba'', in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan * Baba Canton, a canton in Los Ríos Province, Ecuador * Baba, Iran, a village in Kurdistan Province * Baba, Kohg ...

and

Samba Mapangala Samba Mapangala is a Congolese singer and bandleader who has been based in Kenya for most of his five-decade musical career, most notably there creating and leading Virunga, which has been one of the most popular bands in East Africa for more tha ...

Band members

Like many East African and Congolese groups, Super Mazembe experienced constant line-up changes. Original lineup: *Lovy Longomba (vocals) - ''Left the band in 1981 and formed groups "Super Lovy" and later "Bana Likasi". He died in 1996. Lovy is son of

Vicky Longomba Victor Longomba Besange Lokuli, commonly known as Vicky Longomba, (13 December 1932 – 12 March 1988 in Kinshasa) was a singer and a founding member of Tout puissant OK Jazz, a Congolese rumba group. He later formed his own group, Lovy du Zaire. ...

and brother of

Awilo Longomba Awilo Longomba is a Congolese soukous musician. At first a drummer in Viva la Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Generation and Loketo, he left drumming for singing and released his first album ''Moto Pamba'' with help from Shimita, Ballou Canta, Dindo ...

, both famous Congolese musicians. Lovy's sons Christian (deceased) and Lovi formed

Longombas Longombas are a duo from Kenya performing a mixture of Hip hop and Soukous. Christian Longomba died on March 3, 2021. Career The group consists of two brothers, Christian and Lovy Longomba. They're from a musical family; father Lovy Longomba w ...

, a popular hip hop group in Kenya.'' *Kassongo wa Kanema (vocals) -''Left the band in the early 80's and joined Orchestra Virunga - died 2020.'' *Atia Jo (Frederick Mulunguluke Mwanza) (bass guitar) -''Died 2006'' *Bukasa wa Bukasa "Bukalos" (lead guitar) -''Died 1989' *Rapok Kayembe Miketo (guitar) -''Died 1991'' *Komba Kassongo Songoley (guitar) -''Died 1990'' *Mutonkole Longwa Didos (vocals)-''Died 1999'' *Fataki Lokassa -deceased *Lobe Mapako "pasi" -Guitar -deceased *Tailos -deceased *Dodo Doris (drums) - deceased in June 2020 Some of the later members: *Loboko Bua Mangala (guitar) *Kilambe Katele Aley (vocals) *Mwanza wa Mwanza Mulunguluke (bass guitar) *Kitenge Ngoi wa Kitombole (drums) *Musa Olokwiso Mangala *Rondo Wa Kandolo -Vocals

Discography

Albums

*''Mazembe'' (1980) *''10th Anniversary'' (1981) *''Double Gold'' (1982) *''Kaivaska'' (1982) —

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...

*''Wabe-Aba'' (1984)

Compilations

*''Their Greatest Hits'' (1986) *''Maloba D' Amor'' (1990) — DiscAfrique *''Hits of Mazembe vol. 4'' *''Giants of East Africa'' (2001) —

Earthworks Earthworks may refer to: Construction *Earthworks (archaeology), human-made constructions that modify the land contour * Earthworks (engineering), civil engineering works created by moving or processing quantities of soil *Earthworks (military), m ...

/ Stern's Music

References

External links

* {{Authority control Kenyan musical groups 1974 establishments in Kenya 1967 establishments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo