The Congo-Kenya Connection

I know that I said my next post would be on Biafran highlife, but it's taking me a little longer than I expected to put that entry together. Instead, this post will be about Congolese musicians in East Africa.

As I said in the previous post, the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) experienced prolonged periods of civil unrest throughout the 60s. The majority of the unrest that contributed to the appearance of Congolese musicians in East Africa was seen during the period in which Joseph Mobutu* was president. He came to power after the two former heads of state, Patrice Lumumba (prime minister) and Joseph Kasavubu (president) had a falling out and Kasavubu kicked Lumumba out of office. Mobutu, who was the head of the army at the time, was able to manufacture a mutiny within the army in large part due to the fact that he payed his soldiers privately because he was receiving financial support from the US and Belgium. Thus, he took advantage of the crisis of leadership and took over the country in a coup. Interesting fact: Lumumba was kidnapped and executed by Congolese and Belgian troops who had the support of the CIA.

Anyway, back to the music, I'm getting off-track. It was because of this unrest that East Africa (particularly, Kenya) was inundated with Congolese musicians. This golden age of Congolese music in East Africa lasted from the late 60s/early 70s to 1985 when the president of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi, ordered foreign workers to leave the country (this included musicians).

Here are a few songs by Congolese bands who were based in East Africa (click on the track title to listen/download). Some of the musicians may be familiar (e.g. Franco, Baba Gaston), while others will be less so.

Baba Nationale (Baba Gaston) - Zala Reconnassant Fa Fan

Orchestre Festival du Zaire - Shauri Yako pts 1 & 2


Franco et le T.P. O.K. Jazz - President Leon Mba


*He later renamed himself Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga, meaning something along the lines of "The Great Unstoppable Warrior Who Goes From Victory to Victory"

-For more info on Congolese musicians in East Africa check out Muzikfan's piece "congo in kenya"