Super Mazembe - Kanindo

L'Orchestre Super Mazembe must rank as one of the most prolific recording groups on the local scene. Currently among the top sellers in the charts of the Kenyan Record Producers Association with "Kayembe," Super Mazembe have just cut a new single they hope will be another scorcher in their attempt to consolidate their chart scoring trend.
The new disc is tagged "Lovy" which follows the band's trend of naming songs after the groups members. Kayembe is rhythm guitarist, Longwa is band leader and vocalist and Lovy is a vocalist.
The Zairean band has been associated with top sellers since their arrival in Kenya in 1975 from Zambia. March 1977 was their proudest moment recording-wise. They cut "Kasongo" named after rhythm guitarist Songoley, a song authored by the group's main lyricist Katele.
Super Mazembe was surprised when they saw the song climb the charts to perching at the top spot and stay there for three months.
After such a hit the group face the problem of following up with an equally strong song. But Katele was an inspired man -- as he stayed ever since. He wrote "Nabima Kate" which scored, followed by "Shida" which also hit, but harder, and "South view" which also knew chart success. There has been no looking back since.
Talking to Super Mazembe bandleader Mutonkole Longwa Didos, earlier this week, I was told the secret of their songwriting success lies in their having time to think, compose and record.
The band, he says, does not have a playing contract with any of the various night clubs, save for several calls and occasional fundraising affairs, the band is virtually free to dedicate all of its efforts to the recording aspects.

Parents
For Super Mazembe, music started by stealing away to the various nightclubs in their hometown of Likasi in Shaba province of Zaire where their copper mining parents slaved for a livelihood in much the same traditions as the neighboring Zambians.
"There was music everywhere," Longwa Didos said. "We would go to the various nightclubs just to watch the musicians play. Most of the current members of Super Mazembe were doing the same and it was inevitable we would meet."
"When we decided to go into music the parents were really against the idea, telling us to finish our education but our minds were made up.
"One of the guys in the band had an uncle who had instruments and we would practice. Eventually we decided to cross the border into Zambia -- this was in 1970. But the guy's uncle decided to grab his instruments at the border and we crossed into Zambia with no playing gear at all.
"However most Zambian nightclubs had in-house equipment and we ended up by playing all the same. All this time we were just playing top records of the day. We never recorded in Zambia."
Then one day Super Mazembe ran into Nashil Pichen (of the Kenyan Eagles Limpopo band) and "Pole Musa" fame in Zambia. On learning how heavy the Kenyan scene was it was back to visa chasing for the guys who eventually landed in Nairobi in 1975.

London
In Nairobi they teamed up with another Zairean vocalist Latenor Mawa, who was a local hero of sorts having scored several Swahili hits, his biggest being "Asha mtoto ma Kenya" which he had recorded with Kangee Brothers, originally Hodi Boys "B" and eventually Hi Fives. Mazembe played the Madunis nightclub (now the New Florida) before giving live playing a break to concentrate on recording.
"Our musical influences are contemporary Zairian young sounds," Longwa Didos says, "even when we started listening to the groups in Zaire we never really got over-hooked on people like Tabu Ley (Rochereau) or Franco. They and their ilk had their own crowd of older guys. It was Kiamwangana Mateta (Verckys) for us.
I do not think we have been overly influenced. I think our sound is Super Mazembe.

Crowds
Super Mazembe have also taken their Kenya residence by storm. They have already gassed out Zairean music buffs in such places as Kakamega, Kisumu, Nakuru and Mombasa.
Mazembe have one year left in their recording contract with A.I.T. and things look pretty bright for them musically. Right now another A.I.T. product scaling the charts is "Bwana Nipe Pesa" by the Lo Six's Tandi Kumalo and Super Mazembe backed the South African lady.
The men at A.I.T. continue to prove their interest in local artistes. Last year they became the first local record company to sponsor Kenyan superstar Slim Ali to the Middle East and right now they are doing great things for Super Mazembe.

Source: http://www.muzikifan.com/shika.html

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