Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique
Back to Musiques d'AfriqueRetour aux Musiques d'Afrique
|<< Back to Music of D.R. of Congo
Sam Mangwana
(Congo-Kinshasa/Angola)
Biography
Sam Mangwana, although of Angolan descent, was born in Kinshasa, where he grew up
in an environment which exposed him to music of different styles. Most influential was the Congolese rumba,
a re-africanisation of latin and caribbean music, extremely popular in the two Congos since colonial times.
Musicians such as le Grand Kallé (Joseph Kabbasele), Dr. Nico, and Franco
were the main pioneers of the new Congolese rumba.
As a teenager, Sam had already penned a couple of songs which he proposed to Tabu Ley Rochereau. Soon he was asked to join Tabu Ley's band, African Fiesta. In 1968, he left the band and formed Festival des Maquisards together with Dizzy Mandjeku. This new band showed unstable and after some production work, he was approached by Franco to join his TP OK Jazz in 1972.
He stayed three years with TP OK Jazz, returned briefly to Tabu Ley's, and went finally to Abidjan in 1976. In 1979, he established his own SAM label. He recorded several albums, and his biggest hit during this period was « Maria Tebbo » in 1982.
His contribution to the Congolese music scene and to African music in general is beyond discussion.
As a teenager, Sam had already penned a couple of songs which he proposed to Tabu Ley Rochereau. Soon he was asked to join Tabu Ley's band, African Fiesta. In 1968, he left the band and formed Festival des Maquisards together with Dizzy Mandjeku. This new band showed unstable and after some production work, he was approached by Franco to join his TP OK Jazz in 1972.
He stayed three years with TP OK Jazz, returned briefly to Tabu Ley's, and went finally to Abidjan in 1976. In 1979, he established his own SAM label. He recorded several albums, and his biggest hit during this period was « Maria Tebbo » in 1982.
His contribution to the Congolese music scene and to African music in general is beyond discussion.
Sam Mangwana
Born: 21 February 1945, in Kinshasa, Congo, from Angolan parents
Birth Name: Samuel Domingos Mangwana
Style: Congolese rumba
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Lubamba | 2021 | Music Development Company | Re-issue of 2016 release |
| Patria Querida | 2005 | Sam Mangwana/Radio Nacional de Angola | |
| Cantos de Esperança | 2003 | Sono CDS 9106 | CD |
| The Very Best of 2001 | 2001 | B.Mas BMP00158-2 | |
| Volume 2: Eyebana 1980/1984 | 2000 | Ngoyarto NG071 | Reissue on CD of 1980-84 recordings |
| Volume 1: Bilinga Linga 1968/1969 | 2000 | Ngoyarto NG070 | Reissue on CD of 1968-69 recordings |
| Sings Dino Vangu | 2000 | Stern's STCD 1077 | |
| Galo Negro | 1998 | Musidisc 12189-2 | |
| Georgette Eckins | 1996 | Sonodisc CDS 7002 | Reissue on CD |
| Maria Tebbo | 1995 | Stern's STCD 3011 | Reissue on CD of Maria Tebbo and Waka Waka (SAM001) |
| No Me Digas No | 1995 | Blue Silver 50396-2 (Distr. Déclic) | Re-released in 2004 by Créon Music (76167-2) |
| 1980/1982 (Co-operation) | 1995 | Sonodisc CDS 6860 | With Franco, reisssue on CD |
| Affaire Video/Matinda | 1995 | SAM Production SM010 | reisssue on CD |
| Rumba Music | 1993 | Celluloid 66928-2 | Re-released by Stern's STCD 9003 (1994) |
| Megamix | 1990 | Syllart 38780-2 | Re-issue on CD with additional tracks |
| For Ever | 1989 | Syllart 38775-2 | With Franco & TP OK Jazz |
| Franco Joue Avec Sam Mangwana | 1989 | Edipop POP 043 | With Franco; (also Rythmes et Musique RMU 850) |
| Aladji | 1987 | Syllart 8336 | |
| In Nairobi | 1984 | ASLP 409 | With l'African All Stars |
| Georgette Eckins | 1984 | Celluloid CEL 6729 | With l'African All Stars |
| Matinda | 1983 | ASLP 973 | With l'African All Stars |
| Bonne Année | 1983 | SMP 6039 | With Lokasso Ya M'Bongo & l'African All Stars |
| N'Simba Eli | 1983 | Celluloid CEL 6639 | With l'African All Stars |
| Affaire Video | 1982 | Celluloid CEL 6638 | With l'African All Stars |
| Coopération | 1982 | Edipop POP 017 | With Franco |
| Les Chiens Aboient, La Caravane Passe | 1981 | SAM 003 | Also on RASLPS 027 (Nigeria) and Gramma AMALP 003 |
| Maria Tebbo | 1982 | SAM 002 | With l'African All Stars |
| Est-ce que tu moyens? | 1981 | SMP 6008 | With l'African All Stars |
| Affaire Disco | 1981 | SAM 001 / SMP 6000 | With l'African All Stars |
| Matinda | 1979 | Eddy'son 79391 | Paris sessions with l'African All Stars |
| Georgette Eckins | 1979 | Eddy'son 79390 | Paris sessions with l'African All Stars [comp.] |
| Suzana Coulibaly | 1979 | Disc-Orient D.O. 002 | Also on Gramma and SAM |
| M'banda Kazaka | 1979 | Adios Records ALP 6 | Also on Badmos International |
| Georgette Eckins | 1978 | Adios Records ALP 1 | |
| Sam Mangwana du Zaïre | 1977 | Essiebons – INLS 6123 | Digital re-release 2021 (S.A.M. Productions) |
| Sam Mangwana et le Festival des Maquisards |
1971 | African 360.031 | Digital re-release 2020 |
Sources
Thanks to Dolf Motz for his help in compiling this discography
Thanks to Dolf Motz for his help in compiling this discography
Page added January 2002