Kinshasa and Nairobi come alive in Franco tribute

The legacy of Franco who straddled the Congolese music scene like a colossus for more than three decades, lives on with the music he composed with great finesse. Photo/FILE

On Monday, the Democratic Republic of Congo pays homage to one of its greatest sons, the grandmaster of Lingala music, Franco.

The legacy of the singer who straddled the Congolese music scene like a colossus for more than three decades, lives on with the music he composed with great finesse still being played by radio stations in Congo and other African countries. The run-up to the anniversary has been marked with increased air play of his music on radio.

The latest reports say there have been suggestions made through his family and the Luambo Foundation to have his remains perhaps one day exhumed from the Gombe cemetery in Kinshasa and buried in Sona-Bota, Lower Congo region, his birthplace.

However this is subject to debate. When Luambo Luanzo Makiadi or simply Franco, died in a Belgian hospital in 1989, his body was flown for burial in his home town of Kinshasa. Among those who were last to visit him at his hospital bed include his sister Marie Louise and wife Annie. By the time he died, the burly singer had more than 150 albums to his name since he formed his TP OK Jazz Band in 1956.

Leading role

To mark Franco’s death anniversary, there will be several big events, especially in Kinshasa, which was his musical base. Veteran Paul Onema a former tour manager for TP OK Jazz shows told the Nation in Kinshasa that elaborate plans for the tribute shows had already been finalised. Billboards with details of the events have been put up in various Kinshasa streets for the last week. On Saturday the final concert will be held at the Grand Hotel, the biggest and most prestigious hotel in Kinshasa.

Last week Franco’s son, Emongo Luambo, speaking on behalf of the family said they were taking a leading role in organising the events through the Luambo Foundation. Though Emongo did not follow in the footsteps of his father, he still remains a leading figure in the family.

Speaking to reporters last week, Emongo extolled his father’s musical talent, like during the death of the then Zairean First Lady Marie Antoinete Mobutu. “I followed with amazement how my father was able to compose a song dedicated to the former First lady within a very short while,” Emongo said.

In Nairobi the highlight of the shows was on Saturday night with a special one at the Club Afrique. Other spots paying tribute to Franco include Zanze Bar in town, Dream Village in South B, and Citizen Vibro in Lang’ata. To grace the show at Club Afrique were Paris-based Congolese musicians, Nyboma Mwandido and General Defao. It was Defao who warmed the crowd with his hit songs, Madowa and Sala Noki.

Nyboma also proved to his fans at the show that he still had the high charming voice as he performed his ever popular hit songs like Nina, Amba, Moyibi and Double Double. Later both Nyboma and Defao performed some of Franco’s popular songs like Mamou, Mario, Azda, and Pesa Position among others. Scores of fans at the show also paid glowing tribute to Franco. Commissioner of Sports, Gordon Oluoch said he could not forget the contribution Franco had made to the music world.

“I was greatly saddened when Franco died and I’m glad to join thousands of others in remembering and honouring him for his music.” Similarly, Nairobi-based producer and former Orchestra Virunga long serving band manager Tabu Osusa recalls the great contribution Franco played popularising African instruments like “Likembe”.

“He was very innovative popularising the African peoples music,” he said. Tabu recalls a memorable encounter during Franco’s tour to Kenya with his TP OK Jazz in 1983. Franco was amazed at the number of musicians in the Virunga band. “As I introduced the more than 15 members of Virunga, Franco joked about it saying it was only his TP OK Jazz that was known to have many members.”

Later, Franco joined members of Virunga briefly on stage to perform one song at the then Starlight Night Club in Nairobi. As for Tessy Wamatuba who was among the fans at Club Afrique, she says that Franco’s music always reminded her of the festive season especially Christmas.

Another diehard Franco fan who was present is John Machua, a former music promoter of Makuti Club. As for singer and dancer Kanda King, listening to Franco’s inspired his Rhumba beats during performances. Tributes to Franco have been pouring in from many of his admirers both from inside and outside the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The band he ably led for more than 30 years, is no more. His vice-president of many years, Lutumba Simaro formed Bana OK following his fight with the family over TP OK Jazz. While Franco’s legacy lives on in his former band members and the many younger musicians he groomed into great artistes, no one in his family has followed in his footsteps. In fact, after his death, there was a fight for the control of TP OK Jazz between the family and the group led by Simaro, which some years later culminated in the formation of Bana OK band.

During Franco’s burial on October 17, 1989, his mother Mama Makiesse had paid glowing tribute to Simaro who she had in fact anointed as the one best placed to run the affairs of the TP OK Jazz. As veteran Kenyan broadcaster James Onyango Joel who was among those at he burial vividly remembers, “Simaro quickly obliged to the request next to his coffin.”

Franco’s foe turned ally, Tabu Ley, who was known as Pascal Rochereau is ill and feeble after suffering from a mild stroke in July last year. The two men (Franco and Tabu Ley) kept a serious fight for supremacy in Congo and beyond for a long time, but interestingly, came together to do a collaboration Lisanga ya Banganga and Kabasele in tribute to the fallen Grand master of Congolese music Grand Kalle in 1983. Tabu Ley will follow the events marking the death of his friend from his daughter’s home in Paris where he is recuperating.