Remembering Franco Luambo Makiadi, 35 years on

A collage of Congolese Rumba Maestro Franco Lwambo Makiadi in action and a monument erected in his honour [Courtesy]

If you frequent entertainment spots or love rhumba, you might have noticed that this weekend is playing more music by the late Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi.

What many might not know is the rhumba and soukoss legend died exactly 35 years ago on October 12, 1989 in Brussels, Belgium.

By the time he died, Franco had more than 100 albums to his name in a career spanning four decades.

And the popularity of his music has held strong three and half decades since his death.

This has been a tradition in Africa and in several cities around the globe from the time he died.

Kenya is among the countries in Africa, besides the Francophone countries on the continent, that have a large number of fans of rhumba fans.

In Nakuru, a number of entertainment joints within the city centre were abuzz with the legend’s music.

Some of the popular hits in the city are ‘Fabrice’, ‘Kimpa Kisangameni’ and ‘Muzi’.

“His music was and is still sweet. They are loved and unmatched and their popularity is not ending any time soon,” Franco fan Maurice Alloice Odhiambo said.

Odhiambo said despite the songs being in Lingala or French, languages not understood by many Kenyans, their lyrics and beats are sweet and full of moral lessons, similar to songs by Tanzanian secular musicians.

In his last album a few months before he died, Franco partnered with Sam Mangwana to release ‘Forever’.

Sam Mangwana remembers Franco

Mangwana who now lives in Luanda, said they have been re-playing some of T.P. OK Jazz Band music and lyrics for the past two weeks in memory of the departed rhumba legend.                                                          

“Franco was a spirit in Rhumba music. He was an institution and unbeatable. He was an employer who molded many artistes within and without Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). And that’s why he was loved and his music lasted long in the industry,” Mangwana told The Standard from Luanda in Angola.

Fresh from a show in Madrid, Spain, Mangwana said he’s been dedicating this week to play Franco songs to celebrate him as a genuine friend and colleague in the industry.

“He’s an experienced musician of our generation whom we did a lot together in the world of music in the fight for top honours with most of his music having shaped the current Rhumba industry,” said the 79-year-old musician, who celebrates his 80th birthday in February next year.

Explaining how they painfully worked hard to ensure ‘Forever’ was recorded and produced with Franco knowing his days were numbered on earth, Mangwana described the legend musician as an enigma.

“Franco was in pain when we were in the process of recording and producing this album (Forever). He ensured it had to come fruition before he died and I salute him for that,” said Mangwana, who has assembled some Angolan musicians who have lived in DRC to do the Franco work.

And as they do this (celebrate the 35th anniversary of Franco), they are equally in remembrance of their generation of musicians who have since passed on like Pepe Kalle Kabasselleh Yampanya and Rochoreau Taabu Ley.

“We are also totally in remembrance of the three artistes as the real rhumba artistes. The rest who came after that generation are Soukous Rhumba musicians,” said Mangwana.

Nyboma’s take

Paris based artiste Nyboma Mwandido is another Congolese rhumba kingpin who described the Rhumba legend as an iconic musician.

Although he never performed with Franco, he said he (Franco) “was a legend and no one can dispute that but my friend Wuta Mayi who knows him very well having performed with him in the same outfit can tell us more.”

Wuta Mayi who’s only conversant in French said they are playing Franco’s lyrics in Paris.

“In his (Franco) remembrance, for the past few days we have tried our level best to play some of his music,” said Mayi.

In Brussels, Belgium, songstress Nana Nkumu said for the past few weeks, all that has been passing through their minds was best they could befit the fallen legend.

“Franco was our father who mentored us. We play homage to him and we have taken our time to play some of his music as a way of remembrance to the legend,” Nkumu who speaks fluent Kiswahili.

Most of her songs are sang with Baniela Mabonga at TP OK Jazz Band. They include ‘Les On Dit’, ‘Bana Congo’ and ‘Mapendo Ni Tabu’.

In Nairobi, Rhumba television host Mfumu Kimbango said it’s a week that all rhumba fans cannot afford to let it go without taking their time to listen to Franco melodies.

“This week, we are celebrating the legend and I’m part of it in the fight for top honours for rhumba to take and maintain its space in the music industry,” said Kimbango.

“Kimpa Kisangameni has made us mad in the lakeside city. More melodies of the legend are countless here and this process will continue for the next seven days,” said Kisumu resident Wilberforce Okumu.