World music: music of Franco and TPOK Jazz, selected by Kees Schuil from his collection of African LPs.
The singer François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi is born on 6 July 1938. His mother has a market stall in Ngiri-Ngiri, a district in Léopoldville, know known as Kinshasa. The little François plays the mouth organ and other instruments to draw costumers.
In 1955, when he is 17 years old, Makiadi forms a band, which plays in the OK Bar in Kinshasa, and in 1956 this band adopts the name OK Jazz. He himself is usually called Franco. About 1961, the band consists of over 20 members, and the name is changed into “Tout Puissant OK Jazz”, the “Almighty OK Jazz”, abbreviated: TPOK Jazz.
In 1961, the singer and composer Simaro Masiya Lutumba joins OK Jazz. He continues to play a very long time with the band, sometimes as the bandleader. Lutumba is know as “le poète”, the poet of the band.
In 1971, president Mobutu starts his programme “Authenticité”, in the course of which the name of the country, “Congo-Kinshasa”, changes into Zaïre, and the president changes his own name into “Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Zabanga”. Franco also contributes to “Authenticité”, by changing his name into “L’Okanga La Ndju Pene Luambo Luanzo Makiadi”.
In 1974, the saxophone player and composer Empompo “Deyesse” Loway joins TPOK Jazz. And in 1977, Franco takes the disabled singer M’Pongo Love into his orchestra. In 1975, Empompo Loway persuades Love
, then 19 years old, to give up her job and start a career as a singer. He helps her a lot at writing her own music. Two numbers on the first album of M’Pongo Love, “L’Afrique danse avec M’Pongo Love”, were composed by Empompo Loway. M’Pongo Love became one of Africa’s most popular female singers.
In 1980, Empompo Loway and M’Pongo Love end their collaboration. Loway goes on to help another young singer: Vonga Ndayimba, known by her stage name Vonga Aye.
Meanwhile, Franco has become one of Congo’s richest citizens. Hij invests in real estate in Belgium, France and Congo. His band releases an average of 4 albums per year.
A well-known number in TPOK Jazz’s repertoire is “Chérie Bondowé”. This is a composition of Mayaula Mayoni, a famous former soccer player in Congo. He was repeatedly invited by Franco to join his band, but he limited himself to writing songs for TPOK Jazz. Yet, occasionally he played along with the orchestra. the number “Chérie Bondowé” is initially forbidden in Congo, because it is about the life of a prostitute, seen from her point of view. The song is first released in Brussels, and from there finds its way to Congo.
In 1978, Franco himself releases 2 numbers which are considered to be offensive by the Procurator-General in Congo. Franco, Simaro and some other band members are sentenced to imprisonment, but they are set free again 2 months later, after protests in the streets.
On 9 May 1987, Franco performed, together with his orchestra, in the Vechtse Banen in Utrecht. (In the Mariama programme of 26 June 2020 – of Stan Rijven – a recording from this concert could be heard, as from 34’: Mariama 26 juni 2020; Franco & TPOK Jazz, Vechtse Banen.) By then, however, Franco already had been weakened by AIDS, and he was able to sing only every now and then during the concert. He died in a hospital in Brussels on 12 October 1989.
Special thanks to Muziekweb in Rotterdam.
Also thanks to Barbera Schuil, for making available her African LPs.
Playlist:
- Franco Orchestre O.K. Jazz: Nganda Maboke Naboyi, 4’35, LP L’Afrique Danse N° 6, 1968, african 360.006
- Franco Orchestre O.K. Jazz: Yo Mabali Tapale, 3’46, LP L’Afrique Danse N° 6, 1967, african 360.006
- TPOK Jazz & Simaro: Cedou, 7’18, CD Franco & Le T.P.O.K. Jazz & Simaro, 1993, Sono CD 36520
- M’Pongo Love: Bileli, 5’12, LP L’Afrique danse avec M’Pongo Love, 1977, african 360.102
- Elo Music & Empompo Loway & Vonga Aye: Moninga, 7’4, LP Empompo Deyesse, 1986, ASL ASLP 1009
- Franco de Mi Amor & Le T.P.O.K. Jazz: Lolaka, 8’57, LP Keba Na Matraque Vol 4, 1981, EDIPOP PRODUCTION POP 04
- Franco & TPOK Jazz: Kimpa Kisangameni, 9’58, LP Chez Rythmes Et Musiques À Paris, 1984, EDIPOP PRODUCTION POP 032
- Mayaula Mayoni: Chérie Bondowe, 3’38, Single Zebi 001, 1975, african M 001
- Franco & le TPOK Jazz: 5 Ans Ya Fabrice, 12’13, LP Chez Fabrice À Bruxelles, 1983, EDIPOP POP 027
