Orchestre Bella Bella
Encyclopedia
L' Orchestre Bella Bella was a prominent DR Congo
soukous
band that formed in the early 1970s
. It was led by the Soki brothers ("Les frères Soki" in french
).
With Shama Shama and Lipwa Lipwa, it was one of the bands that popularized a smoother, softer style in the soukous scene. The band was a starting ground for many successful musicians, including Nyboma
and Pepe Kalle
.
of the youth of Kinshasa
. Since their early years, the band recorded several hits, such as Baboti bapekisi, Sylvie, Alexandrine, Mwasi ya moto, Luta, Lina, Mandendeli, Mbuta, Bipale ya pembeni, and Sofele.
Around 1972 the band experienced drastic changes in its lineup and internal quarrels, that eventually led to one the Soki brothers, Emile, leaving the band for a while to create a spin-off group called Bella Mambo. In the same period, Pepe Kalle
joined Bella Bella for a few years, in order to earn the money he needed to buy instruments for his own band Empire Bakuba
. With Kalle as a replacement for Emile, Bella Bella managed to keep their leading position in the soukous scene, with hits like Mbuta, Kamale, Kimbundi, Lipua Lipua and Sola.
In 1973 Emile quitted Bella Mambo and rejoined his brother in Bella Bella. In the same year, the Soki brothers created their own recording label, Allez-y frères Soki, which released two major hits of their career, Bienvenue Doudou and Sentina. Both were written with the contribution of Dizzy Mandjeku. These two singles were incredibly successful, and brought several talented musicians to ask the Soki brothers to join in. These two singles were followed by a string of other hits (e.g., Mwana yoka toli, Menga, De base, Tikela ngai mobali, Pambindoni, Nganga, Houleux-houleux, Zamba). Eventually, the Soki brothers became so rich that they would sponsor other ensembles, one notable example being Papa Wemba
's Viva La Musica
.
In 1977, while the Soki brothers were on tour in Europe
, Emile had health problems that would lead to a nervous breakdown
and, eventually, to his definitive departure from the band. Maxime made several attempts at revitalizing the band, but several long time members left between the late 1970s
and the early 1980s
. New entries (including, most notably, Kanda Bongo Man
and Diblo Dibala
) did not save the band from its decline. Maxime himself finally gave up Bella Bella and relocated in Germany
.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
soukous
Soukous
Soukous is a dance music genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa...
band that formed in the early 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
. It was led by the Soki brothers ("Les frères Soki" in french
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
).
With Shama Shama and Lipwa Lipwa, it was one of the bands that popularized a smoother, softer style in the soukous scene. The band was a starting ground for many successful musicians, including Nyboma
Nyboma
Nyboma is one of the most celebrated Soukous musicians in the world. Nyboma Mwan'dido was born in Zaire ....
and Pepe Kalle
Pepe Kalle
Pepe Kalle was a soukous singer, musician and bandleader from the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
.
History
The band was founded in 1969 by the Soki brothers, Maxim and Emile Soki. Its lineup included guitarists Johnny Roger and Jean Bosco. Emile, who was only 16 when Bella Bella started, became a teen idolTeen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols began their careers as child actors...
of the youth of Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
. Since their early years, the band recorded several hits, such as Baboti bapekisi, Sylvie, Alexandrine, Mwasi ya moto, Luta, Lina, Mandendeli, Mbuta, Bipale ya pembeni, and Sofele.
Around 1972 the band experienced drastic changes in its lineup and internal quarrels, that eventually led to one the Soki brothers, Emile, leaving the band for a while to create a spin-off group called Bella Mambo. In the same period, Pepe Kalle
Pepe Kalle
Pepe Kalle was a soukous singer, musician and bandleader from the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
joined Bella Bella for a few years, in order to earn the money he needed to buy instruments for his own band Empire Bakuba
Empire Bakuba
Empire Bakuba is an influential soukous band that formed in Zaire in 1972, founded by popular singer Pepe Kalle. The name of the band refers to the Bakuba Kingdom; it is sometimes reported as Empire Bakuba du Grand Kalle, in honor of Grand Kalle, the "father of Congolese music", who was also Pepe...
. With Kalle as a replacement for Emile, Bella Bella managed to keep their leading position in the soukous scene, with hits like Mbuta, Kamale, Kimbundi, Lipua Lipua and Sola.
In 1973 Emile quitted Bella Mambo and rejoined his brother in Bella Bella. In the same year, the Soki brothers created their own recording label, Allez-y frères Soki, which released two major hits of their career, Bienvenue Doudou and Sentina. Both were written with the contribution of Dizzy Mandjeku. These two singles were incredibly successful, and brought several talented musicians to ask the Soki brothers to join in. These two singles were followed by a string of other hits (e.g., Mwana yoka toli, Menga, De base, Tikela ngai mobali, Pambindoni, Nganga, Houleux-houleux, Zamba). Eventually, the Soki brothers became so rich that they would sponsor other ensembles, one notable example being Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba was born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in 1949 in Lubefu . He is a Congolese rumba musician, one of Africa's most popular musicians, and prominent in World music.-Zaiko Langa Langa:...
's Viva La Musica
Viva La Musica
Viva La Musica is a popular band from Zaire founded by singer Papa Wemba in 1977. While Viva La Musica started out as a soukous band , it eventually grew into a world music act, reaching some popularity and success in the European, American, and even Asian markets, as well as in most of Africa...
.
In 1977, while the Soki brothers were on tour in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Emile had health problems that would lead to a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
and, eventually, to his definitive departure from the band. Maxime made several attempts at revitalizing the band, but several long time members left between the late 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
and the early 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
. New entries (including, most notably, Kanda Bongo Man
Kanda Bongo Man
Kanda Bongo Man, born 1955 in Inongo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a prominent soukous musician.Kanda Bongo Man become the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley...
and Diblo Dibala
Diblo Dibala
Diblo Dibala, often known simply as Diblo, is a Congolese soukous musician, known as "Machine Gun" for his speed and skill on the guitar. He was born in 1954 in Kisangani. He moved to Kinshasa as a child, and aged 15 won a talent competition which led to him playing guitar in Franco's TPOK band...
) did not save the band from its decline. Maxime himself finally gave up Bella Bella and relocated in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Partial discography
- Les plus grands succès de l'orchestre Bella Bella - vol. 1 (Ngoyarto NG 029)
- Les plus grands succès de l'orchestre Bella Bella - vol. 2 (Ngoyarto NG 030)
- Les plus grands succès de l'orchestre Bella Bella - vol. 3 (Ngoyarto NG 031)
- Les plus grands succès de l'orchestre Bella Bella - vol. 4 (Ngoyarto NG 032)
- Les plus grands succès de l'orchestre Bella Bella: The serie single fetish (Ngoyarto NG 049)
- La naissance de l'Orchestre Bella Bella: Jamais de la Vie (Ngoyarto NG092)
- Les plus grands succès de l'Orchestre Bella Bella: Nono (Ngoyarto NG093)
- Les plus grands succès de l'Orchestre Bella Bella: Sola & Sofele (Ngoyarto NG094)
- Les plus grands succès de l'Orchestre Bella Bella: Muana Yoka Toli (Ngoyarto NG095)
- Les plus grands succès de l'Orchestre Bella Bella & les frères Soki - vol. 5 (Ngoyarto NG096)
- Bella Bella des Freres Soki 1970/1973 (Sonodisc CD 36541)
- Frères Soki & Bella Bella 1970/1975 (Sonodisc CD 36602)
- L'Afrique danse avec l'Orchestre Bella Bella & Soki Vangu (Sonodisc 1976)
- Compilation Orchestres de la generation "Bella-Bella" (VVAA compilation, Sonodisc CD 36532)
- Jeunes Orchestres Zaïrois (VVAA compilation, Sonodisc CD 36517)