One of my favorite songs by him. I was so glad when I saw that Mars, Inc. chose Congolese music to illustrate their bounty chocolate bar commercial campaign… 🙂 good memory…
José, an italo-belgian guy, speaking the 4 national languages of Congo. I think he beats almost everyone. Generally, strangers learn Lingala or Swahili depending on where they evolve but here he speaks all four. I have to admit, I’m impressed! Keep it up!
30 Juin 1960. 30 Juin 2013. 53 ans d’Indépendance. Bonne fête d’indépendance à tous les Congolais et à toute la diaspora congolaise répartie dans le monde entier, France, Belgique, Angleterre, Inde, Chine, Japon, USA, Allemagne, Russie, etc…
Happy Independance Day to all Congolese people around the world!
Translation
Independance (cha-cha) was declared
Freedom (cha-cha), we’ve conquered
At the Round Table****, they won
Oh Liberty (cha-cha) we’ve conquered!
The MNC**, the UGECO**
ABAZI** and PDC**
The PCA** and African Jazz Band***
were all victorious at the Round Table!
*Patrice Lumumba was the first prime minister of the independent Congo (assassinated in January 1961) and Joseph Kasavubu was the first President of the Congo. Jean Bolikango, Paul Bolya, Moïse Tshombe, Albert Kalonji, Cleophas Kamitatu, Essandja and Mbuta Daniel Kanza were leaders of political and/or separatist congolese movements.
**Congolese political parties
***African Jazz Band was commissioned to write this song. Joseph Kabasele aka Grand Kalle unite his own musicians of African Jazz (Roger Izeidi, Petit Pierre, Déchaud Mwamba, Dr Nico) and invite OK Jazz musicians (Vicky Longomba et Brazzos), the 2 most popular groups of the moment, to write this song. The song will be first sang on the official day of independence, June 30th, 1960.
****The Round Table took place in Brussels’ Hotel Plazza from January 20th to February 20th and from April 26th to May 26th of year 1960.
Vocabulary
budììkadidi: indépendance / independence cisùmbu: parti / parti cisùmbu cya cìdììdì: parti politique / political party cisùmbu nkààyà: parti unique musambu: chanson / song mèèsà: table mèèsà a cijèngù: table ronde / round table
very few projects are seen to sensibilize population to problems arising in Congo. i have to salute them. who can live a valorizing and happy life when their sisters, their mothers, their daughters are raped everyday? attacking the congolese woman is attacking the foundation of the Congolese Nation…