Ambiance Congo / The Other Black Music
Ambiance Congo: June 19, 2022 3:00-5:00 PM
Shiko Mawatu Lubangi Muniania
WELCOME!
Today we have a special edition of Ambiance Congo. Today we honor Shiko Mawatu, a great musician and composer whose long and prolific career has been much respected and appreciated by his peers. He has played guitar, sang, composed and arranged music with many of his great contemporaries from Docteur Nico to Pepe Kalle, from Tshala Muana to Madilu System. Before a stroke some 12 or so years ago, he embarked upon a solo career and recorded his wonderful album, KIMBANDA NZILA, which was released in 2007 and nominated in 2008 for the NAACP Image Award. His song MANU was in 2012 awarded the Grand Prize in the World Music category in the John Lennon Song Writing Contest.
Shiko Mawatu has dedicated his formidable talents to music that preserves and advances the rumba odemba of Franco, Rochereau and Nico.
We are joined here this day, via recorded interview, by Shiko Mawatu’s producer and friend, Mr. Lubangi Muniania.
Lubangi Muniania is an African Art Historian, specializing in the visual and performing arts of Africa. He has contributed to the award-winning documentary The Rumba Kings. He has worked as a Director of Education at the Museum for African Art in New York, African Art Education consultant for the Art Institute of Chicago, Saint Louis Museum of Arts, other museums, festivals, and cultural centers. Mr. Muniania has written articles for newspapers, essays for museum publications and universities. He is currently the president of Tabilulu Productions.
Lubangi will contribute history and insight that we could otherwise only get from Shiko himself.
He has been working with Shiko to produce a new album which is expected in the not-too-distant future.
Thank you, Shiko Mawatu, for creating the amazing music that I have enjoyed for about 40 years and still listen to often today. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve reached for and played again a record that still stands today due to your contributions. You have greatly enriched my life with your talents.
Thank you, Lubangi Muniania for agreeing to speak with us today and for supporting Shiko’s efforts to carry on in his efforts to keep great musical traditions fresh and alive.
You are invited to add your comments, greetings and well wishes for Shiko in the comments section here.
Show archive
Playlist
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King Kester Emeneya & Victoria Eleison Dream Team Dream Band, “sebene from DORIS ILOKO (theme song)”
from PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music - 1995
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Afro International, “Alitalia”
from Afro International De Mimi Ley
Editions Veve International - 1986
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Vonga Ayé, Docteur Nico & Deyesse, “Probleme Eleki”
from Afro Dance Music Présente Vonga - Nico - Deyesse
Afro Dance Music
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Pepe Kalle et l'Orchestre Empire Bakuba, “Mbata Na Mokongo”
from Bonana 85
Alia Music - 1985
by request
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Shiko Mawatu, “Moziki”
from Kimbanda Nzila
Tabilulu Productions/iMak Entertainment - 2007
by request
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