Political ties forge musical alliance between Kenya, DRC

Hot on the heels of a recent visit by newly-elected Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, veteran Congolese music producer and musician Mateta Kiamuangana Verckys is in Nairobi for a series of activities aimed at solidifying the musical ties between DRC and Kenya.

The flamboyant 75-year-old Kiamuangana, who was behind the legendary Veve Production labels that produced great Lingala music in the 1970s and 1980s, is in Kenya courtesy of Tamasha Corporation (formerly Polygram Records).

Tamasha Corporation were the producers and distributors of music by other Congolese legends such as the grandmaster Franco Luambo Makiadi’s TPOK Jazz and his arch-rival, Tabu Ley Rochereau, considered the other major pillar of Congolese music for several decades from the late 1950s.

ROYALTIES

The seasoned saxophone player, composer and all-round musician, has lately been preoccupied with improving the welfare of his fellow musicians by ensuring they receive their royalties from across the continent, especially East, Central, southern and West Africa, where Congolese music is adored.

Kiamuangana is among the few surviving Congolese stars, having ventured into music almost six decades ago.

Leading Congolese music bands of the 1970s, including Orch Lipua Lipua, Orch Les Kamale, Orch Shama Shama, Orch Bella Bela, Orch Kiama, Zaiko Langa were among those that recorded on his Veve Production labels.

These groups featured some of the most talented musicians to ever come out of DRC, including Pepe Kalle, Nyboma Mwandibo, Nzaya Dio, Vata Mombasa, Papa Wemba, King Kester Emeneya and Mopero wa Maloba.

SECOND HOME

From the 1960s to the 1980s, many Congolese musicians travelled from Kinshasa through Kampala to come to Nairobi to record and produce their music.

Many of them stayed behind or even after moving to Europe, still considered Nairobi as their second home in terms of production.

Speaking to the Nation earlier this week, Kiamuangana expressed his delight at returning to Kenya after an 18-year absence.

His last visit to Kenya was also related to royalties and music copyrights matters, something that Kiamuangana has always been advocating for back home in the Democratic Republic of Congo where he been the long-serving president and chairman of various music unions like UMUCO, SOCODA among others.

“I was inspired to visit Nairobi, particularly due to the cordial relationships between Kenya and DRC," he said.

He pointed out that, with encouragement from senior Congolese government officials and new arrangements in place, it will now be possible for Kenyan musicians to interact more with their Congolese counterparts.