In anticipation of the Kenyan general elections of March 2013, Samba Mapangala has recorded “Chagua Chagua (Vote in Peace),” an important new song that encourages people to choose their leaders wisely.

The video clip was created by the groundbreaking editorial cartoonist Maddo (Paul Kalemba), whose widely popular comic strip “It’s A Madd Madd World” has been published weekly in The Standard newspaper for 23 years. Free audio downloads are available on SoundCloud.com

Orchestre Virunga

ba Mapangala and his group Orchestre Virunga are one of the classic bands from Central and East Africa from the last 25 years.

Known and loved throughout East Africa and beyond for his astounding voice, Samba created an innovative mix of the best Congolese rumba and soukous with an earthier Kenyan style.

Their song and CD of the same name “Malako Disco” originally released in 1981 is almost always featured in lists of the top all-time African recordings.

Born in Matadi, Zaire (DR Congo), Samba Mapangala played with various Kinshasa bands including Super Bella Bella in the early 1970s, before forming his first band, Les Kinois in Kampala, Uganda where he had moved.

Samba then led his band of musicians east after the stint in Uganda, and as lead singer and songwriter, they relocated to Nairobi, Kenya in 1977 where they took the scene by storm.

Samba’s voice and songwriting talents won Les Kinois the recognition which lifted them above the crowd of bands struggling for work in Kenya.

Samba was not satisfied by producing generic Congolese rumba (AKA soukous) and he quickly adopted East African influences, incorporating the lilting benga rhythms of Kenya.

♫ Audio: 1978 – L’Orchestre Les Kinois – Les Kinois Part 1 & 2 – 10:11

In 1981 he formed Orchestre Virunga, a band made up of Congolese and Kenyan musicians which became one of the most popular bands in all East Africa.

Singing in both Congolese Lingala and Kenyan Swahili languages, Samba and the Orchestre Virunga won a large and dedicated following in Nairobi.

This exploded internationally, following the British release of his classic track Malako in 1984 on the Earthwork label.

♫ Audio: 1981 – Samba Mapangala & Orchestre Virunga– Malako Disco – 6:42

In 1989 Samba made his first visit to Europe recording with Quatre Etoiles in Paris. In 1991 he returned with Orchestre Virunga for a European tour after which Samba stayed in London to record “Feet on Fire” for the Stern’s label.

These recordings were extremely well received and a punishing tour schedule took them across the world.

Source – https://afroriginal.blogspot.com/

Samba Mapangala’s new song-Chagua Chagua (Vote in Peace)