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Trio Madjesi & Orchestre Sosoliso
(Congo-Kinshasa)
Biography
Trio Madjesi & Orchestre Sosoliso was for a few years the hottest act in Zaire of the early 1970s.
Madjesi, a composition of the first letters of the names of the singers Mario Matadidi Mabele,
Loko Massengo "Djeskain" and Saak "Sinatra" Sakoul, made a
joyful mix of Zairean music and soul music in the style of the then so popular James Brown, who came to Zaire in 1972.
Their costumes and appearance were James Brown-inspired and their lyrics and overall approach was
full of humour. Their song « Sex Madjesi », renamed in « Sosoliso na Sosoliso »,
on the album « Trio Madjesi volume 1 » is an excellent example of their style, with that rolling
rhythm lead by the guitars, with James Brown inspired licks.
The individual members of the trio had earned their fame in other bands. Marcel Loko Massengo's career began in Jamel National, and continued through Négro Succès, Vox Africa and Orchestre Vévé. The other two members, Mario Mabele and Saak Sakoul (also written as Saak Saakul) equally left Orchestre Vévé before forming Trio Madjesi. After the first years of success throughout Africa, their fame faded. There were some attempts to continue the saga, but without great success. Between 1978 and 1980, Loko Massengo was part of a trio Les Trois Frères, together with Youlou Mabiala and Boyibanda. After departure of Mabiala, he made an album with Boyibanda « Michel Boyibanda & Loko Massengo avec L'International Orchestre Rumbaya ». In recent years, Djeskain has participated in the rumba revival band Kékélé.
Trio Madjesi's song « 8ème round » about a match of boxing legend Mohammed Ali against Foreman in Kinshasa on 30 October 1974 can be found on the compilation CD « Hits & Misses-Muhammad Ali And The Ultimate Sound », issued by Trikont in 2003.
The individual members of the trio had earned their fame in other bands. Marcel Loko Massengo's career began in Jamel National, and continued through Négro Succès, Vox Africa and Orchestre Vévé. The other two members, Mario Mabele and Saak Sakoul (also written as Saak Saakul) equally left Orchestre Vévé before forming Trio Madjesi. After the first years of success throughout Africa, their fame faded. There were some attempts to continue the saga, but without great success. Between 1978 and 1980, Loko Massengo was part of a trio Les Trois Frères, together with Youlou Mabiala and Boyibanda. After departure of Mabiala, he made an album with Boyibanda « Michel Boyibanda & Loko Massengo avec L'International Orchestre Rumbaya ». In recent years, Djeskain has participated in the rumba revival band Kékélé.
Trio Madjesi's song « 8ème round » about a match of boxing legend Mohammed Ali against Foreman in Kinshasa on 30 October 1974 can be found on the compilation CD « Hits & Misses-Muhammad Ali And The Ultimate Sound », issued by Trikont in 2003.
Trio Madjesi
• Main musicians in Trio Madjesi & Orchestre Sosoliso:
Lead vocal:
Mario Matadidi Mabele (born 1942 in Zaire from Angolese parents)
Loko Massengo Marcel "Djeskain" (born 1947 in Lépoldville (now Kinshasa), from parents from Congo-Brazzaville)
Bonghat Sinuku Tshekabu Maximilien, aka Sinatra, aka Saak Saakul (born 1943 Congo-Kinshasa, died 19 March 2023 in Paris);
Guitar: Makoso Kindundi;
Bass: Flavien Makabi ;
Saxophone: Mbole Tambwe
Lead vocal:
Mario Matadidi Mabele (born 1942 in Zaire from Angolese parents)
Loko Massengo Marcel "Djeskain" (born 1947 in Lépoldville (now Kinshasa), from parents from Congo-Brazzaville)
Bonghat Sinuku Tshekabu Maximilien, aka Sinatra, aka Saak Saakul (born 1943 Congo-Kinshasa, died 19 March 2023 in Paris);
Guitar: Makoso Kindundi;
Bass: Flavien Makabi ;
Saxophone: Mbole Tambwe
Formed: 1972, in Kinshasa
Style: Congolese rumba
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Sosoliso & Trio Madjesi | 2005 | Glenn Music | Compilation CD |
| Butteur | 1997 | Sonodisc CD36587 | |
| Generation Force Unie | 1993 | Galadisk TMA001 | LP |
| Le retour de Trio Madjesi | 1984 | SDI 114 | LP |
| Photo Madjesi | 1974 | African 360 055 | LP |
| Trio Madjesi vol. 2 | 1973 | African 360 044 | LP |
| Trio madjesi vol. 1 | 1973 | African 360 043 | LP |
| A sampler CD with some older songs from the 1970s: | |||
| Compilation Orchestres Congolo-Zaïroise (1967 / 1968 / 1970 / 1974) |
1993 | Sonodisc CD 36537 | Compilation CD, with Trio Madjesi, Negro Succes, Kwamy & Les Bantous, Veve |
| Exceptionally, we list a few 45RPM singles: | |||
| Ngadiadia - Gestemany | 1976 | SOS 29 / African 91.221 | 45rpm |
| Il est méchant 1 & 2 | 1974 | SOS 27 / African 90.859 | 45rpm |
| Olingi nasomba nini / Moussa ohoto na yo | 1974 | SOS 24 / African 90.791 | 45rpm |
| Carte blanche 1 & 2 | 1973 | SOS 23 / African 90.788 | 45rpm |
| Solo albums Loko Massengo: | |||
| Tshiabuala bloque zingue | 1985? | BAE 4004 | LP |
| Mille Kilos de "Bloque Zingué" | 1984 | Safari Sound SAS 049 | LP |
| Non stop Tchiabuala | 1983 | Safari Sound SAS 041 | LP |
| Michel Boyibanda & Loko Massengo avec L'International Orchestre Rumbaya: | |||
| Michel Boyibanda & Loko Massengo avec L'International Orchestre Rumbaya |
1981 | Musiclub MC 4001 (distr. Eddyson) | LP |
Sources
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trio_Madjesi
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trio_Madjesi
Page added November 2004