Rock’a Mambo

First Rock’a Mambo defection

Around August 1959, defections stroke simultaneously Rocka-Mambo, OK Jazz and African Jazz. With the independence approaching in Leopoldville (Former name of Kinshasa), a fear of uncertainty grew with musicians native to Congo Brazzaville. Nino Malapet was the instigator of a secret plan to move back to ‘their’ Brazzaville and start a new band. Brazzaville seems immune to the agitations reigning in Leopoldville at that time. The plan was executed in mid-1959 (between June and August). The Orchestre Bantous was born, without Malapet, who chose not to make the move.

By the way, Bantou means human in Kikongo language, spoken in both the Congos. It also represents a group of people of sub-Saharan Africa. Many Bantou tribes use variations of the word Bantu to designate people.

But let’s get back to our subject. So, Rock-a-Mambo lost Essous and Pandi, two heavyweights of the band. Fortunately, on a musical standpoint though, the defection did not severely impact the band. Nino Malapet who did not make the move, patched Essou’s clarinet with his saxophone. Saxophonist Bruno Houla also replaced Pandi. Ironically, Rock’a-Mambo released more prolific songs like Iyele, after the first scission.

Iyele by Rock’a-Mambo.

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About
The birth of Rock’a Mambo
First Rock’a Mambo defection
Second Defection, And Dislocation
A Bland Resurrection & Legacy
Timeline