BYE  BYE  BOYIBANDA 

BYE  BYE  BOYIBANDA 

"I have found a trustworthy confidant in a tree.
The tree neither gossips about others nor does it share the secrets he shares with him.
When the wind blows, the tree hums in response, but doesn't utter a word. He keeps everything to himself"

This is a translation of an excerpt from the late Michel  Boyibanda's song 'nzete esololaka na mutu te'. The composer finds a clever way of telling off rumour mongers, whom he alleges talk like a "tchakou" (parrot). When a conservationist asked this writer which song captures an element of conservation, so that they could play it as a theme song, this was the song that came to mind. It doesn't really address conservation, but nonetheless rather captures the innocence of trees in the dealings of human beings, as such it should be left alone to be. This was a song by Michel Boyibanda, with Franco's OK Jazz. 

Michele died yesterday, 9th October 2024 in a Brazzaville hospital after suffering a stroke. The musician also known as a Vieux Bobo had since retired from music, after featuring for several top bands. He was born on 22nd February 1940 in Pikounda District in the Republic of Congo. He began his music career with Negro Band in 1958, as a teenager. Negro Band, which also featured several superstars was a studio band housed at Esengo music label. The band is not to be confused with Negro Success of Bavon Marie Marie and Bholen. 

Boyibanda who was a good composer and a talented singer with a great voice excelled in solos and as a backup vocalist as well. He quit Negro Band and joined Bantous De La Capitale in 1959, featuring for the band's very first line-up. The Bantous lineup in the days included Nino Malapet (tenor sax), Alphonse Ntaloulou(bass guitar), Essous Jean Serge(clarinet and alto sax), Passy Mermos (lead guitar, Nkouka Célestin(vocal and maracas), Pamelo Mounka Pablito (vocal and maracas) Pandy Saturnin(congas), Michel Boyibanda (vocal), Samba Mascot (rhythm guitar).

On 13th April 1964, he crossed River Congo to Kinshasa to join Franco's OKJ where he established himself as one of the band's most formidable singers. However, in 1967 he quit only to make a comeback in 1972, when he excelled in the bolero 'gege yoka' a composition of Simaro. 

Among the songs he composed with OKJ are:

1.  "Ata Na Yebi" (1966)
2. "Samba Toko Samba"(1966)
3.  "Andu Wa Andura" (1971)
4.  "Ba Soucis Na Week-End" (1971)
5.  "Osaboté Ngai Jean-Jean" (1971) 
6.  "Zando Ya Tipo-Tipo" (1974)

It is in the song 'zando ya tipo tipo' whose title translates to The market of Tipo Tipo that he manages to create a love story that brings out the brutality of the notorious Arab slave trader of Daresalam known as Tipu Tipu. That brings him out as an astute composer. 

Boyibanda also known as Michaux was also a great showman. He is the man you see choreographing in OKJ concerts. He quit OK Jazz again in 1977 and went back to Brazaville, teamed up with former Trio Madjesi singer Loko Masengo, also a native of Brazaville in creating Ryco Jazz which also attained success with several hit songs. There was a rumour that he was kicked out of OKJ for loving the bottle more than his work and many times arriving for concerts while as high as a kite.

He has twice suffered a stroke, that left him hospitalized for a couple of years. He breathed his last yesterday, having left an indelible footprint in the world of music. His songs shall keep the world entertained for eons.

BY: JEROME OGOLA

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