Editor's Choice

A RISE TO THE TOP AGAINST ALL ODDS

May 12, 2025 - 04:49 PM The Story of Malian music star, Salif Keita In a recent interview with Jabulani Radio, one physically disabled musician recounted every detail of his musical journey, explaining how he had a difficult childhood. However, he later requested that nothing about his disability be included in his story. This is clear evidence that, despite living in a more enlightened society, disability is still viewed through the same lens as it was in the past, when communities hid such children under the assumption that they were bad omens or brought shame to the family. These are the kinds of challenges that...

A STORY OF PASSION & RESSILIENCE

March 17, 2025 - 07:42 AM The benefits of a palm tree are numerous. These are captured in one of the poems by Bokhoeit Amana, titled "Mti Mle." It was Awillo Mike’s love for poetry that endeared him to the poet’s works, and when the time came for him and his fellow founders of Jammazi to name their band, he suggested the name. "Mnazi" is a palm tree. It yields a juicy fruit, which is very edible and nutritious. It also carries a sap that can be fermented into palm wine, popularly known as mnazi along the Kenyan Coast. Its leaves offer a classic roofing material, and its hollow trunk can be used to make furniture, build structures, etc. The plant is very resourceful, and that’s exactly what the......

M’PONGO, ANOTHER SHINING STARLET FROM THE COUNTRY OF MUSICAL GODS

January 30, 2025 - 03:36 PM She was a breathtaking beauty and had a charming persona and an infectious voice. Maybe God was compensating for her physical inadequacies brought about by polio, which denied her a straight posture and a brisk walk. The gorgeous smile on her face endeared her to fans, making her music addictive, thus cultivating loyalty among her fans.It wasn’t just that. A cocktail of other factors catapulted her to fame. Other incidental happenings acted as the wind that blew air into the embers that flared up the flames of her success. In Congolese rumba, rivalry is a known catalyst for creativity, as exemplified by Franco’s double-barreled shots of ‘chicotte’ and ‘course......

Zaiko Langa Langa

January 15, 2025 - 04:55 AM Today we take our spades and dig into the rich Biography of Zaiko Langa Langa. This is an Innovative Congolese rumba band, formed in 1970. Its most prolific members included:Michel Anto "Evoloko" (born Kinshasa, May 20, 1954; vocal), Matima Kinuani (born Sona Bata, Congo-Kinshasa, Apr. 14, 1951; died Liege, Belgium, May 29, 1996; guitar), Félix Manuwaku Waku (born Kinshasa, Aug. 19, 1954; guitar), Siméon Mavuela Somo (born Congo-Kinshasa; vocal), Meridjo Belobi (born Congo-Kinshasa; traps), D.V. Moanda (born Congo-Kinshasa, 1947; died Kinshasa, Jan. 9, 1984; founder), Muaka Mbeka "Bapius" (born Boma, Congo-Kinshasa, Feb. 27, 1951; bass), Nyoka Longo "Jossart" (born......

KALENJIN MUSIC HISTORY

December 23, 2024 - 05:18 AM In a whirlwind tour across Kenya's hinterland sampling the country's music from each community, the picturesque scenery of the lush green tea plantains of Kericho prepares one psychologically, for an enchanting musical cuisine, especially factoring the reality that Chandarana, the legendary music recording company set base in the town before the country's independence, long before other towns enjoyed such privileges. Kericho is home to the Kipsigis sub-tribe of the Kalenjin community. They are the most populous of these 11 subtribes, and some quarters also consider them elitist. The sub-tribe occupying two counties has the most vibrant music industry, which can be traced to the......

Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba Legacy Lives on.

November 23, 2024 - 07:05 PM Same date 92 years ago, in Prospect Township, near Johannesburg, South Africa, a South African-born singer who became known as Mama Afrika, Miriam Makeba was born. (died November 10, 2008, Castel Volturno, near Naples, Italy). She is one of the world’s most prominent Black African performers in the 20th century. The daughter of a Swazi mother and a Xhosa father, Makeba grew up in Sophiatown, a segregated Black township outside of Johannesburg, and began singing in a school choir at an early age. She became a professional vocalist in 1954, performing primarily in southern Africa. By the late 1950s, her singing and recording had made her well-known in South Africa, and......

CONGOLESE RUMBA

November 04, 2024 - 09:10 AM THE GENRE IS CONGOLESE RUMBA It is not every day that you encounter a footballer who can’t tell the difference between volleyball and football, but in the world of entertainment and specifically music, writers, broadcasters, commentators, and even musicians seem to get a little mixed up when it comes to identifying the genre of that Congolese popular beat, the one that was popularized by Franco. The broader genre of the music is rumba. This beat has its origin in the Caribbean Island of Cuba, the Latin American country that ended up with significant populations of blacks as a result of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade that saw Africans traded as slaves to provide labor in the......

KENYAN EXPORTED HIS GUITAR WIZARDRY TO CANADA

October 27, 2024 - 02:46 PM KENYAN EXPORTED HIS GUITAR WIZARDRY TO CANADA ADAM NDARO SOLOMON is a multi-talented musician who was a 2005 Juno Award Winner and a double winner at TAMA (Toronto African Music Awards) for Best Release and Best New Performers in 1997. Adam was born in Mombasa, Kenya, and began performing at an early age, playing kivoti (flute) and kayaamba (shaker) at village celebrations and festivals. He established his career playing lead guitar and singing on recordings and videos with Kenya's most popular bands and musicians, including Joseph Kamaru, Daudi Kabaka, Zetta success band, Kabasselleh Ochieng, Bana Citoyen, Super Kalles, Bana Batoto, Super Mazembe, Less Wanyika, Popo Lipo of Lessa Lessan,......

THE INDOMITABLE MANGWANA

October 26, 2024 - 05:36 AM THE INDOMITABLE MANGWANA. The year is 1963. Tabuley and Mangwana share the leadership of the newly created African Fiesta, an offshoot of the popular African Jazz of Grand Kalle. Tabuley had scouted for a fresh talent, a new singing sensation by the name Mangwana. The young man was only 17 years old. Tabuley invited Nico to come to see the newfound. A wonderful singer he was, as they discovered from the brief audition. The biggest challenge was that he was still a minor and a student in a secondary school. With word doing rounds that the band has a new singing bird, Club Petit Bois was jammed that Saturday, but trouble was lurking. Mangwana's father had sent cops to arrest......

Franco's Last Album

August 13, 2024 - 03:52 PM Franco's Last Album: This was the last album that Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (FRANCO) recorded a few months before his demise. SonoDisc (producer)CD 6981 Franco / Sam Mangwana et le T.P. O.K. Jazz: "Les Rumeurs "- Inedits 1988 - 1989 01 Les rumeurs (Baiser ya juda) [1988/89] (T) 12:19 Franco & T.P. OK Jazz 02 Laissez-nous tranquilles [1988/89] (T) 12:30 Franco & T.P. OK Jazz 03 Batela makila na ngai [1988/89] (T) 8:15 Franco & T.P. OK Jazz 04 Fabrice akende sango [1988/89] (T) 12:15 Franco & T.P. OK Jazz 05 Mbanda akana ngai [1988/89] (T) 7:04 Franco & T.P. OK JazzThe songs were later released in 1994 under Sono disc. Next......

Editor's Choice

A RISE TO THE TOP AGAINST ALL ODDS

A STORY OF PASSION & RESSILIENCE

M’PONGO, ANOTHER SHINING STARLET FROM THE COUNTRY OF MUSICAL GODS

Zaiko Langa Langa

KALENJIN MUSIC HISTORY

Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba Legacy Lives on.

CONGOLESE RUMBA

KENYAN EXPORTED HIS GUITAR WIZARDRY TO CANADA

THE INDOMITABLE MANGWANA

Franco's Last Album

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Rumba Fiesta by The Rumba Monk

Soukous Fever

Rhumba Overdose Show Replay

Bahari ya Zilizopendwa

Echoes of Africa Show

Jabulani African Hits

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Legend Franco Luambo Makaidi

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Editor's Choice

A RISE TO THE TOP AGAINST ALL ODDS

A STORY OF PASSION & RESSILIENCE

M’PONGO, ANOTHER SHINING STARLET FROM THE COUNTRY OF MUSICAL GODS

Zaiko Langa Langa

KALENJIN MUSIC HISTORY

Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba Legacy Lives on.

CONGOLESE RUMBA

KENYAN EXPORTED HIS GUITAR WIZARDRY TO CANADA

THE INDOMITABLE MANGWANA

Franco's Last Album

News

Artist Spotlight (14)

Editor's Choice (12)

Jabulani Library: Most Popular (51)

Jabulani News Archives (24)

Music Lyrics (52)

Playlists (4)

Playlists 2 (0)

RhumbaChronicles2 (0)

Programs

Rumba Fiesta by The Rumba Monk

Soukous Fever

Rhumba Overdose Show Replay

Bahari ya Zilizopendwa

Echoes of Africa Show

Jabulani African Hits

Latest podcasts

Legend Franco Luambo Makaidi

Find us on

Contact us

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