Rumba on the River

A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos

By: Gary Stewart

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Paperback | 17 November 2003 | Edition Number 1

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436 Pages

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22.23 x 14.61 x 2.54

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There had always been music along the banks of the Congo River—lutes and drums, the myriad instruments handed down from ancestors. But when Joseph Kabasele and his African Jazz went chop for chop with O.K. Jazz and Bantous de la Capitale, music in Africa would never be the same. A sultry rumba washed in relentless waves across new nations springing up below the Sahara. The Western press would dub the sound soukous or rumba rock; most of Africa called in Congo music.
Born in Kinshasa and Brazzaville at the end of World War II, Congon music matured as Africans fought to consolidate their hard-won independence. In addition to great musicians—Franco, Essous, Abeti, Tabu Ley, and youth bands like Zaiko Langa Langa—the cast of characters includes the conniving King Leopold II, the martyred Patrice Lumumba, corrupt dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, military strongman Denis Sassou Nguesso, heavyweight boxing champs George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, along with a Belgian baron and a clutch of enterprising Greek expatriates who pioneered the Congolese recording industry.
Rumba on the River presents a snapshot of an era when the currents of tradition and modernization collided along the banks of the Congo. It is the story of twin capitals engulfed in political struggle and the vibrant new music that flowered amidst the ferment.
For more information on the book, visit its other online home at rumbaontheriver.com—an impressive resource.

Industry Reviews

""The first really comprehensive account of the development of an African pop style."" - Times Literary Supplement ""For fans and scholars alike, it is a godsend to have so much of this history packed into a single, well-indexed volume."" - Boston Phoenix ""The nost comprehensive account written in English of the rich history of music from the Belgian Congo, Zaire, DR Congo, French Congo or simply Congo." - Charlie Gillet "A fascinating and tantalizing celebration." - Herald "[Stewart's] love and understanding of Congolese music is strikingly evident throughout this book. Few can match his encyclopedic knowledge." - International Journal of African Historical Studies

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Arts & Entertainment Music Music Styles & Genres Rock & Pop Music Society & Culture Social Groups Ethnic Studies Cultural Studies History Specific Events & Topics in History Traditional & Classical Non-Western Music

Sociology & Anthropology Anthropology Theory of Music & Musicology

Prologue: A mighty sound: Mobutu and the musicians, 1997	p. 1
Difficult delivery: Bowane, Leopold II, Stanley, Brazza, Kamba, Feruzi, and Wendo, 1946 and before	p. 3
Why don't you make a record? Olympia, Ngoma, Opika, and Loningisa, 1946-1950	p. 23
The brains of the music: Jhimmy, Kabasele, and African Jazz, 1950-1955	p. 34
In need of a name: Essous, Franco, and O.K. Jazz, 1955-1956	p. 49
A change in mentality: Kasavubu, Lumumba, Rock'a Mambo, O.K. Jazz, and Orchestre Bantou, 1957-1959	p. 60
Celebrations and sorrows: Kasavubu, Lumumba, African Jazz, and O.K. Jazz, 1960-1961	p. 83
Congo music: Orchestre Bantou and Ry-Co Jazz, 1960-1963	p. 101
Money changes everything: African Jazz, African Fiesta, Moise Tshombe, O.K. Jazz, and Orchestre Bantou, 1963-1965	p. 110
Revolution: Mobutu, Franco, Bavon Marie Marie, Kwamy, Docteur Nico, Rochereau, and Essous, 1965-1967	p. 122
Dances and disorder: Docteur Nico, Rochereau, Sam Mangwana, and Franco, 1968-1969	p. 135
Rhythm of the time: Franco, Verckys, Bella Bella, Zaiko Langa Langa, Bavon Marie Marie, Franklin Boukaka, and Rochereau, 1969-1970	p. 148
The name game: Veve, Trio Madjesi, Afrisa, Fiesta Sukisa, O.K. Jazz, and Bantous de la Capitale, 1971-1973	p. 169
The guys have it: Abeti, Franco, and Mobutu, 1973-1974	p. 188
What goes up...: Mobutu, George Foreman, Muhammad Ali, Tabu Ley, Bella Bella, and Zaiko Langa Langa, 1974-1976	p. 206
...Must come down: Abeti, M'Pongo Love, Papa Wemba, Franco, and Tabu Ley, 1975-1978	p. 219
Exodus: Bantous de la Capitale, Mobutu, African All Stars, Verckys, Koffi Olomide, and Docteur Nico, 1977-1980	p. 235
Paris: Franco, Pamelo Mounk'a, Bopol, Pablo, M'Pongo Love, Kosmos, Kanda Bongo Man, and Les Quatre Etoiles, 1979-1982	p. 254
Article 15: Kabasele, Sam Mangwana, Franco, Tabu Ley, Mbilia Bel, and Docteur Nico, 1980-1985	p. 276
You can't tell the players without a program: Empire Bakuba and Clan Langa Langa, 1979-1985	p. 300
Crossroads: Tshala Muana, Abeti, Rigo Star, Les Quatre Etoiles, Loketo, Kanda Bongo Man, Tabu Ley, and Mbilia Bel, 1985-1988	p. 314
Get out your program again: Clan Langa Langa, Koffi Olomide, and Empire Bakuba, 1985-1989	p. 333
Matters of life and death: Bantous de la Capitale and O.K. Jazz, 1985-1989	p. 350
The gray nineties: O.K. Jazz, Wenge Musica, Bantous de la Capitale, Soukous Stars, Abeti, Papa Wemba, and Tabu Ley, 1989 and after	p. 369
Notes	p. 393
Bibliography	p. 404
Select discography	p. 410
Acknowledgments	p. 416
Index	p. 419
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Rumba on the River

A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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