Franklin Boukaka à Paris cover

Franklin Boukaka à Paris

Released

A beautiful jazz record by an underrated giant of Congolese popular music, composed and arranged by none other than Manu Dibango. Recorded in Paris in 1970, the album isn’t  typical Congolese rumba, but you can hear some of those familiar rhythms and the influence of Cuban music throughout. Floating over Dibango’s arrangements, Boukaka’s baritone voice is passionate and compelling as he decries the state of Africa and the failure of African leaders to deliver promises of post-independence liberation. He has a remarkable ability to marry delicate, sweet melodies with scathing political lyrics. A few years after the album was released, Boukaka was assassinated for his politics, joining the list of martyrs he celebrates on “Les Immortels.”

Megan Iacobini de Fazio

Suggestions
Fongola cover

Fongola

KOKOKO!
Mutuashi cover

Mutuashi

Tshala Muana
Last Band Standing cover

Last Band Standing

Orchestre Les Mangelepa
Noir et Blanc cover

Noir et Blanc

Bony Bikaye, Hector Zazou
Shauri Yako cover

Shauri Yako

Nguashi N'timbo, Orchestre Festival Du Zaire
Francophonic cover

Francophonic

Franco, Orchestre T.P.O.K. Jazz
Babeti Soukous cover

Babeti Soukous

l'Orchestre Afrisa International, Tabu Ley Rochereau
Ya Mizolé cover

Ya Mizolé

Rrobin, Les Mamans du Congo