Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica - Mwana Molokai: The First Twenty Years cdRoots Home Page More music from Congo Read Customer Reviews

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Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica
Mwana Molokai: The First Twenty Years (Sterns)
$19.99 (2 CD set)

A double CD compilation of 18 of Papa Wemba’s best recordings, made over a span of twenty years (1977 to 1997), during which he rose from cult following in Zaire to global stardom. It includes several rarities, never released outside their original 7” format. As well as Viva La Musica’s extensive roll-call of musicians and vocalists, the tracks include contributions from Pepe Kalle, Koffi Olomide, Josky Kiambukuta, Wendo Kolosoy and Hector Zazou.

Listen to some samples (Real Audio)

Tracks: Mere Superieure  Telegramme  Amina  Loni  Analengo  Efeka Mandundu  Matebu  Bukavu Dawa  Malimba  Kitida  Esclave (Original Version)  M'Balumuna  Adidas Kiesse  Victime De La Mode  Aladji-Djambo  Jingle Amina  Mi Amor  Mama

Press from the label:
In 1974, after five years as one of Zaiko’s lead singers and songwriters, he and some other members left to form Isifi Lokole, whose raison d’etre was to reinvigorate traditional Congolese musical forms with the aggressiveness of the new generation of “youth bands”. A couple of years later, after a brief spell with offshoot band Yoka Lokole, Papa Wemba formed his own outfit. Named after a Johnny Pacheco LP, Viva La Musica was born.

Viva La Musica's stage debut was at Tabu Ley Rochereau's club, Type K (pronounced tipica), on 26th February 1977. The band made an immediate impact both musically and sartorially - each of the four singers wore a different coloured beret, a nice and effective gimmick - and Papa Wemba soon ascended to stardom not only as a pop singer and bandleader but also as a fashion trendsetter.

Mwana Molokai (Mwana means child, Molokai is the region of Kinshasa where Viva La Musica started out) is a double CD compiled by Vincent Luttman presenting 18 of Papa Wemba’s best recordings, made over a span of twenty years (1977 to 1997), during which he rose from cult following in Zaire to global stardom.

It includes several rarities, never released outside their original 7” format. As well as Viva La Musica’s extensive roll-call of musicians and vocalists, the tracks include contributions from Pepe Kalle, Koffi Olomide, Josky Kiambukuta, Wendo Kolosoy and Hector Zazou.