Super Mazembe
Giants of East Africa
Stern's Africa, 2001
Here's another gem of a compilation from the golden era of urban, East African dance music. Super Mazembe had enormous success in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from the mid-70s to the mid-80s. This set of 11 classic tracks from those years demonstrates why. Most of the band was born in southern Congo, near Lubumbashi, but they made their base in Nairobi, Kenya, starting in 1974. Shorter tracks like "Jiji" and "Longwa" deliver lean and mean, guitar-driven rumba. And longer ones like "Loboko" and "Gina" reflect the multi-section form that came to be the norm during this era. These tunes begin with florid, harmonized vocals--topped here by the distinctive, high voice of Lovy Longomba--and evolve through one or more rhythm boosts to animated sebens, with bell-like guitar interplay, and swinging horn arrangements.
These long, relaxed arrangements never sound cluttered, despite all that goes on. The rhythms are driven by all the instruments, but especially by Mwanza Wa Mwanza Mulunguluke's muscular bass lines. The band's overall sound is reminiscent of Samba Mapangala's Orchestra Virunga, a band with a similar history. One of the keys to Super Mazembe's success was their decision to sing in various regional languages. They also delve into some non-rumba rhythms, notably on their first big hit, "Kassongo," which sounds a little like classic 12/8 guitar pop from Zimbabwe, only with the more lush, harmonized vocals of Congo music. The only full-length release of Super Mazembe available today, this collection is indispensable for lovers of classic guitar afropop.
Contributed by: Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org
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