Matadi and the Bas-Congo province know some very interesting exponents of modern culture. Painters and sculptors are well described at the www.congonline.com site. There are also some striking proverbs over there.
But here and now we'll take a closer look at music. In Congo, music is the expression par exellence of popular culture. Young and old listen and dance to it, and the poetic message is often very important and well understood.
The biggest name in Bas-Congo popular music is the biggest name in Congolese and probably even African music in general. It is Luambo Makiadi, outside Congo better known as Franco, who presided the legendary TPOK Jazz orchestra. Franco died in 1989 but his popularity still is unlimited. A musical genius and a great poet he was.
After the death of Franco the TPOK Jazz orchestra was divided in two wings, one (around vice-president Simaro) called Bana OK (the children of OK) and the other around singer Madilu, who was, by the way, singer of the Mario track.
Another well-known Bas-Congolese musician is Defao. Leading his own orchestra nowadays, he used to be a member of the Choc Stars, for which he wrote and sang (together with Debaba) some of the most beautiful pieces of music ever.
We prepared a selection of cd's of these great artists! Please check our music store that we bring to you in association with amazon.com. You can also listen to samples in real audio! And there is a selection of cd's with traditional music of the Bakongo people. Reasons enough to click here and visit our on-line store!
Books
For those of you that would like to read and enjoy books, we have some suggestions here that might be about Bas-Congo or about Congo in general. Following the links will bring you to our associate Amazon.com, wher you might order the books on line.
Monkey Sunday: A Story from am Congolese Village
by Sanna Stanley (illustrator). For readers aged 4 years and up.
"A young Congolese girl promises her father to sit still while he preaches during their village Matondo, a celebration of thanksgiving. This is hard to do, because all the town's animals wander in and out of the open thatch shelter built especially for the service, and Luzolo loves playing with them. However, she behaves herself until a wild monkey disrupts things completely and her parents themselves beg her to stop sitting still and help catch him. The story, based on an incident in the author's life, gives a lovely depiction of this traditional festival. Everyone is having fun, interacting with one another, arms outstretched and feet dancing. The vibrant folklike illustrations are dominated by warm yellows, orange-reds, and brown and are alive with movement and color. Luzolo's exuberant fidgety personality is beautifully conveyed as is the sense of community, spirituality, and love among the village people"
Monkey Sunday
Why the Crab Has No Head, An African Folktale
by Barbara Knutson
Retells the African folktale from the Bakongo people of DR Congo in which Crab's pride influences his creator, who leaves Crab without a head to make him humble.
Congo - In Pictures
by Publications Lerner
If you are planning to buy any other book then we invite you to use the following link. Using these links when you buy books helps us maintaining the Matadi isCool web site.
click here
to visit our new on-line music store!