In this episode, we’ll feature music from Congo Kinshasa with Orchestre Bella-Bella & Les Frères Soki, compiled by Kees Schuil from his collection of African LPs.
The Bella-Bella orchestra was founded by two brothers, Maxim Soki Vangu and Emile Soki Dianzenza, in 1969. Emile was only 16 years old. He soon became a teen idol for Kinshasa teenagers.
One of the orchestra’s guitarists, Jean Bosco Mwenda, also known as Mwenda wa Bayeke, was a pioneer in acoustic guitar in Congo. He has also made a lot of solo music.
“Longola ngai soni”: Lyrics and French translation
In 1972, the line-up changed drastically; due to internal quarrels, one of the brothers, Emile, left the band and founded his own, Bella Mambo. Also, in 1972, tenor Nyboma Mwan’dido joined Bella-Bella, and Pépé Kallé joined the orchestra at the same time for a few years. The reason Pépé joined was to earn money to buy instruments for his own band, Empire Bakuba.
In 1973, Emile returned to Orchestre Bella-Bella. In that same year, they created their own record label, “Allez-y frères Soki”. With this label, they released some of their greatest hits, like “Bienvenu Dudu”. After releasing a lot more hit songs, the Soki-brothers had become so rich that they could sponsor other ensembles, Papa Wemba’s orchestra Viva La Musica, for example. 
“Mère supérieure”: lyrics and French translation
When the Soki-brothers were on tour in Europe in 1977, Emile suffered a nervous breakdown, which led to his definitive departure from the band. 
After that, Maxime tried to revive Bella-Bella, but some original members decided to leave the band. Some new members joined the band, singer Kanda Bongo Man and guitarist Dibo Dibala, for example. They had been members of Orchestre Bella Mambo, the orchestra founded by Emile Soki when he left Bella-Bella.
The band had never become successful after that, so eventually, Maxime Soki Vangu disbanded Orchestre Bella-Bella and settled in Germany.
Special thanks to Muziekweb in Rotterdam.
Playlist:
- Orchestre Bella-Bella & Les Frères Soki: Houleux-Houleux, 5’20, LP Éditions Bella-Bella, 1974, african 360064
- Jean Bosco Mwenda: Masanga, 2’56, CD music of East Africa 1925-1948, YAZOO 7015
- Orchestre Bella-Bella: Longola ngai soni, 5’02, CD Bella-bella des Frères Soki, 1995, Sono CD 36541
- Nyboma/Bopol/Kallé: Amba, 6’20, CD Les étoiles du Zaire, 1992, Mélodie 381172
- Nyboma/Kallé: Nina, 6’28, CD World beat: Afrique centrale; vol.2, 1989, Secret Records 718002
- Empire Bakuba: Miss Goma, 4’16, CD World beat: Afrique centrale; vol.2, 1989, Secret Records 718002
- Papa Wemba & Viva La Musica: Mère supérieure, 7’56, 1977, CD Mwana molokai: the first twenty years, 2004, Sterns Africa STCD 3019/20
- Orchestre Bella-Bella: Tolembaka te, 4’47, CD Bella-bella des Frères Soki, 1995, Sono CD 36541
- Kanda Bongo Man: Frères Soki, 4’50, CD Zing zong, 1991, Hannibal HNCD 1366
- Orchestre Bella-Bella: Nzoto elembi, 4’51, CD Bella-bella des Frères Soki, 1995, Sono CD 36541
- Orchestre Bella-Bella & Les Frères Soki: Bienvenu dudu, (8’41), LP Éditions Bella-Bella, 1974, african 360064
