Les Mangelepa
Encyclopedia
Les Mangelepa is a musical group from Kenya. It is considered as one of the golden era of Kenyan Lingala music acts alongside Super Mazembe
, Baba Gaston and Samba Mapangala
.
The group was formed in 1976 as a splinter of Baba Gaston’s Baba National. Its original bandleader was Bwamy Walumona (Le Capitaine). The group was at the height of its popularity in the 70's and 80's with hits like Embakasi, Maindusa, Walter, Safari ya Mangelepa, Odesia, Dracula and Maboko Pamba. Bwammy Walumona left Les Mangelepa in 1986 after becoming a born again Christian. The band has since confronted further splits and line-up changes. The group was still performing as of 2009, led by Kabila Kabanze Evany.
Super Mazembe
Orchestra Super Mazembe was a popular band based in Kenya playing Lingala music. The band had roots in Super Vox, a band formed in 1967 in Zaire and led by Mutonkole Longwa Didos. The band moved to Nairobi in 1974 and changed its name to Orchestra Super Mazembe.Their biggest hit was "Shauri...
, Baba Gaston and Samba Mapangala
Samba Mapangala
Samba Mapangala born in Matadi in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He spent early 70's with various bands in Kinshasa, before moving to Uganda in 1975 where he and some other Congolese musicians formed the Les Kinois band. They moved to Nairobi in 1977. He formed a new band, the...
.
The group was formed in 1976 as a splinter of Baba Gaston’s Baba National. Its original bandleader was Bwamy Walumona (Le Capitaine). The group was at the height of its popularity in the 70's and 80's with hits like Embakasi, Maindusa, Walter, Safari ya Mangelepa, Odesia, Dracula and Maboko Pamba. Bwammy Walumona left Les Mangelepa in 1986 after becoming a born again Christian. The band has since confronted further splits and line-up changes. The group was still performing as of 2009, led by Kabila Kabanze Evany.