Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga

Zairian vocalist and band leader Samba Mapangala has been a dominant figure in East African music since the mid-1970s. Arriving in Kampala, Uganda, with his group, Les Kinois, in 1975, they eventually made their way to Nairobi in 1977.

The beginnings of the famous Virunga sound were already evident in their recordings prior to the breakup of Les Kinois in 1980. Shortly after that, Samba recorded the now famous Malako recordings in Nairobi with his newly formed Orchestra Virunga. The Malako LP (now titled Virunga Volcano) was one of the pioneering releases of the newly emerging world music scene in Europe in the mid-1980s and an instant favorite. The style was typical of other East African groups of the time: a lean sound with complex, interlocking guitar lines; rapid-fire bass; light, fast-paced percussion; with horn or sax overlays. What was different about Samba and Virunga was the quality of the product. The songs began with Samba's catchy melodic lines and evolved over a nine- or ten minute period through beautiful vocal harmonies and brilliant guitar and horn soloing. Samba's voice, even today, is unique among African vocalists for its pleasing quality and versatility. For World Music editor Simon Broughton, Virunga Volcano is among the 100 Essential (World Music) CDs.

Virunga's East African roots are, no doubt, one of the primary factors that set them apart from other Congolese bands. At the same time, it is perhaps because of their East African base that they haven't really had a chance to develop on the world music scene. In the '80s, the band was hampered by work permit problems (that forced Samba to move to Kampala in 1985), Nairobi's deteriorating but expensive recording facilities, and Kenya's shrinking live music market that makes it difficult to keep a large band together. Sadly, in 1993, Samba gave up on the local night club scene and disbanded the group.

Virunga as a concept continues. In 1995, Samba created a new Virunga release in Paris under the auspices of Senegalese producer Ibrahim Sylla. That CD, Karibu Kenya, features some of the top names in Parisian soukous: Diblo Dibala, Pablo Lubadika, Komba Bellow, Wuta Mayi, Bibi Den's Tshibayi, and Syran Mbenza.

In the summers of 1996 and 1997 Samba toured the U.S.A. and UK backed by members of the Nairobi-based group Bora Bora and other friends. The 1997 tour also featured the late John Ngereza of Les Wanyika as well as the late Fadhili William of Malaika fame.

Samba's Ujumbe (A Message) from 2001 was recorded in Paris with some of the great Congolese session musicians based in Europe. (Douglas B. Paterson) —Courtesy Calabash Music