Mariama

Guitar-player Souzy Kasseya was born in Lubumbashi, former capital of Katanga (now part of Congo), on 20 April 1949. He has been playing in a band from the age of thirteen. He met singer and composer Sam Mangwana when he moved to Kinshasa in 1967 to join the Vox Africa orchestra. Sam Mangwana was born in Kinshasa on 21 February 1945 of an Angolan mother and Zimbabwean father and has sung in all the well-known Congolese orchestras. He is still performing today. On 30 June 2017, both Souzy and Sam performed at the first edition of the Festival International de la Rumba et de l’Elégance. Sam Mangwana has also performed several times in the Netherlands, most recently at the Africa Festival in 2016. He now lives in Angola.

After starting a solo career in 1973, Souzy Kasseya, who also goes by the name of Seyo Souza, moved to Paris in 1977 where he worked with Bopol Mansiamina. Bopol is a Congolese singer, a bass guitar-player as well as a rhythm guitar-player, composer and producer. His real name is Paul Mansiamina M’Foko and he was born on 26 July 1949 in Kinshasa. From 1969, Bopol played in several bands such as Dr. Nico’s African Fiesta Sukisa, Africa International led by Taby Ley and TPOK Jazz led by Franco. The Congolese singer and guitar-player Johnny Bokelo Isenge (born in Boyamba, northeast of Kinshasa in 1936) wrote the first successes of the OK Jazz band. Throughout his life, he sang mainly classic rumba songs. Johnny Bokela Isenga died in January 1995.

Undoubtedly, Souzy Kasseya’s most famous song is “Le téléphone sonne”. This song that comes from his LP “Le retour de l’As” (1983) was very successful in both Africa and Europe. In Paris, Bopol and Soucy also worked with and composed songs for singer M’Pongo Love. In that same period, Souzy also met dancer and backing vocalist Tshala Muna. When they met again in Togo, where Souzy Kasseya was recording his second album “Mami Wata”, they decided to work together. Souzy joined Tshala’s band and composed some songs for her; one of these songs is “Koumba” from her LP “Soukous Sire” from 1991.

Playlist:
Souzy Kasseya. Le téléphone sonne. 8:40. Composer: Souzy Kasseya. LP: Le Retour De L’as. 1983. ESKO production/Afro Rythmes SK 001
Sam Mangwana. Georgette Eckin’s. 9:11. Composer: Sam Mangwana. 1979. Eddy’Son CM 635
Bopol Mansiamina with Orchestre Mode Succès. Pitié, je veux la réconciliation. 8:45. Composer: Bopol Mansiamina. LP Innovation Vol. 1. 1984. Loukelo Samba / City Music INLP 001
OK Jazz. Na Lingaka Balobela Ngaite. 4:20. Composer: Franco Luambo. 45 rpm Na lingaka balobela ngaite / Que no muera el son. 1967. Pathé PF 115481967
Bokelo Isenge with Les Redoutables d’Abeti. Isabelle. 6:39. Composer: Bokelo Isenge. LP Maître ya ba Maître. 1984. Africa New Sound ANS 8403
M’Pongo Love. Une seule femme. 7:59. Composer: Salancoud. LP Une seule femme. 1986. Tempo Tropical NK5113
Tshala Muana. Koumba. 6:09. Composer: Souzy Kasseya. LP Soukous Siren. 1991. Shanachie Records 64031
Souzy Kasseya. Uta ndima Tony. 7:00. Composer: Souzy Kasseya. LP Le Retour De L’as. 1983. ESKO production/Afro Rythmes SK 001

With thanks to Muziekweb Rotterdam