Biography
Remmy Ongala, a guitarist and vocalist born in Zaire and currently based in Dar El Salaam, has generated some of the continent’s most compelling sounds together with his seven-piece ensemble Orchestra Super Matimila. Blending the melodic propulsion of Soukous with East African guitar traditions and Tanzanian rhythms, Ongala and the musicians pursue their aim of moving listeners through intellectually charged dance music. Although his lyrics address poverty, injustice, death, AIDS, governmental corruption, and romantic passion, Ongala guides Orchestra Super Matimila with lyrical guitar lines and expressive vocals that sustain an unbroken current of infectious rhythms.
Born in eastern Zaire’s Kivu region, Ongala first drew notice as drummer and vocalist in the rumba band Bantu Success. After departing the ensemble in 1966, he spent two years with his family before resuming music as a guitarist. In that capacity he performed as sideman for the Zairian groups Success Mwachame, Mickey Jazz, and Grand Mike Jazz. He left Zaire in 1968 to join the Dar El Salaam-based Soukous outfit Orchestra Makassy.
Ongala inaugurated his solo career in 1980 by entering Orchestra Matamila, a unit comprising four guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, and a horn section of saxophone and trumpet. Within months he had assumed leadership of the group. The first two albums produced under his direction, Mambo and Songs For The Poor Man, were captured during Recording Week at Peter Gabriel’s Real World studios. Ongala and Orchestra Super Matimila’s 1997 release Sema incorporated material taped in Sweden in 1994, further tracks laid down in the United Kingdom in 1995, and additional recordings made at Radio Tanzania in 1984. As of June 2000 the lineup includes Basil Osenga Ipopoliop on solo guitar, Lawrence Chuki Limbanga on drums, Kapepula Mukundi on bass guitar, Ayas Ayas Hasani on rhythm guitar, and Kawele Multimanwa on both rhythm and solo guitars.
Born in eastern Zaire’s Kivu region, Ongala first drew notice as drummer and vocalist in the rumba band Bantu Success. After departing the ensemble in 1966, he spent two years with his family before resuming music as a guitarist. In that capacity he performed as sideman for the Zairian groups Success Mwachame, Mickey Jazz, and Grand Mike Jazz. He left Zaire in 1968 to join the Dar El Salaam-based Soukous outfit Orchestra Makassy.
Ongala inaugurated his solo career in 1980 by entering Orchestra Matamila, a unit comprising four guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, and a horn section of saxophone and trumpet. Within months he had assumed leadership of the group. The first two albums produced under his direction, Mambo and Songs For The Poor Man, were captured during Recording Week at Peter Gabriel’s Real World studios. Ongala and Orchestra Super Matimila’s 1997 release Sema incorporated material taped in Sweden in 1994, further tracks laid down in the United Kingdom in 1995, and additional recordings made at Radio Tanzania in 1984. As of June 2000 the lineup includes Basil Osenga Ipopoliop on solo guitar, Lawrence Chuki Limbanga on drums, Kapepula Mukundi on bass guitar, Ayas Ayas Hasani on rhythm guitar, and Kawele Multimanwa on both rhythm and solo guitars.
Singles
