Rock’a Mambo Timeline
1956
Henri Bowane convinces Constantin “Dino” Antopnopoulos to create a new music label named “Esengo”.
1957
Bowane manages to recruit artists for the Esengo label, including starts also recruiting talents, including Essou and Rossignol from then-nascent O.K. Jazz.
He also manages to get Kabasele and his now label-orphan-band African Jazz to sign with the new label.
After a first failure release, Esengo band drops Cha Cha Cha in Congo clubs. This time, they get immediate attention and success. It is a clear adoption at Leopoldville. They also start calling the band Rock’a Mambo.
1959
Motivated by the fear of the rumored independence in the Leopoldville side, Essous and all artists from Brazzaville leave Rock’a Mambo and O.K. Jazz to return to their home town. Following their secretive plans, they give birth to the famous Orchestre Bantous.
1960
Nino Malapet left to join Essou’s Orchestre Bantou, followed by talented guitarist Papa Noël.
1961
Rock’a Mambo dislocates after a performance in Pointe Noire (the Brazzaville side). Musicians reportedly have to sell their instruments to go back to their respective cities. How pitty!
Around 1962
Singer Rossignol and impresario Bowane resurrect Rock’a Mambo with new talents. The new band does unfortunately not meet the success of the first iteration but manages to promote new talents all through the 1970s. Bowane will set his luggage in the Caraibes. End of an era, and a big loss for both Congos.
Jump to:
About
The birth of Rock’a Mambo
First defection
Second Defection, And Dislocation
A Bland Resurrection & Legacy
Timeline
We hope you enjoyed learning about this page of Congolese music history. Please support us by spreading the word with your friends, or through social media. No human work is perfect so, should you find inaccuracies, missing important facts or clear mistake, feel free to write to congolesemusic.com@gmail.com. We will be happy to address them.
Leave a Reply