Here's a link to the "Lufuala Ndonga" music video (off the Congotronics album):
Influences
A dialogue with Konono N°1 founder Mawangu Mingiedi: When did you start Konono N°1? 1965/1966 in Kinshasa. When did you move to Kinshasa? I was born in Angola in 1933 and moved to Kinshasa in 1949. Have you always been a musician or did you have another job when you first moved to Kinshasa? I was a taxi driver before i became a full time musician. Are you married? Do you have children? How many? I have about 20 children, and all the women left me when i did not have any money anymore (big laugh). How long have you been playing the likembe? I've always played the likembe, ever since i was a child in the 30s. At the time, they were made from the stems of palm leaves. Why did you decide to build amplifiers for your instruments? It's god the creator who inspired me to amplify the likembes. What are the amplifiers made from? I started with low frequency radios (6 volts) and i moved on to low frequency radios from cars (12 volts).
Sounds Like
According to the Western press ? "Somewhere between the motorik Kraut-rock repetition of prime Can, a Brazilian carnival and pre-historic acid house (The Word, UK).
"A blend of traditional Bazombo folk with gritty sound distortions that would make Jimi Hendrix proud..." (Newsweek, USA).
"Sounds like no other type of African music... The sophisticated brutality of Konono N°1 leaves permanent traces in the conscience of the listener (Les Inrockuptibles, France).
"Simultaneously evocative of avant-garde rock and electro-acoustic experimentation... areas which are of course totally alien to the members of Konono" (Libération, France).
"They have as much connection with Einstürzende Neubauten as with Tabu Ley... (...) the frenzy and locomotion of prime '70s Miles or a Krautrock jam " (Village Voice).
According to Mingiedi ? "I didn't know there was such a thing as electronic music. I don't borrow from anyone"
Konono N°1 also appear on Congotronics 2, an album (CD+DVD) featuring 6 other bands playing electro-traditional music:
also available from ..
The spectacular Congolese thumb-piano wizards and their overpowering, distorsion-fuelled traditional trance music. The bands home-made sound system, built from old car parts, megaphones and discarded amps creates an absolutely hypnotic sound, an uneasy marriage of tradition and technology, African rhythms with the texture of punk rock and relentless drive of electronic dance music.
Bitte votet für mich da mit ich als support act mit den Küstler Dellee in Stuttgart auftreten kann. Das voten geht bis heute um 18 Uhr. (www.dellee.de)
Coucou! Nous sommes un groupe humanitaire ayant besoin de soutien ! Un concert exceptionnel a lieu le JEUDI 21 JANVIER 2010 au ZEBRE DE BELLEVILLE à PARIS à 19h30 (places disponibles à la fnac), l’occasion de se rencontrer ! Nous avons besoin de soutien de 2 manières : 1-Envoie moi ton e mail en mp que je puisse t’envoyer le flyer pour que tu puisses le diffuser (SYMPA) ; 2-Viens au concert en prenant ta place à la fnac, découverte ! (TRES SYMPA). JC de KITOSLEV
TOUS les bénéfices de notre nouvel album, en coup de cœur à la fnac, sont reversés à l’association TCHENDUKUA, chargée de racheter des terres aux indiens Kogis de Colombie ! Donc merci à tous ceux qui feront avancer ce projet ! En attendant, vous pouvez télécharger tout l'album au profit de l'association sur le seul vrai site de musique équitable www.fairtrade-music.com/kitoslev !
Ompakara med selveste Benny Borg på laget, har spilt inn ny og heftig versjon av den legendariske Balladen om Morgan Kane.
Det 12 manns store Elverumsorkesteret med Balkansound og patent på Gangsterpolka , har denne gangen kastet seg på Mariachiompa genren, hvor den Mexicanske Mariachitropmeten kommer til sin rett.
Ompakaras fele høres denne gangen ut som en Marimba , banjoen er bytta ut med stringswing flamenco gitar, og det trente øre vil høre et godt gammeldags 70 talls stueorgel vugge med.
Elverum mannskor preger et av Norges mest brukte refreng; Morgan Kane var hans navn. Kontakt.; Ivar Nergaard, 91793129, ivar@ompakara.no Harde fakta:
Morgan Kane trekker på 1/5 dels sekund
Morgan kane trekker over 1000 ganger iløpet av balladen om Morgan Kane.
How are you, Konono N°1? Haven't checked in on you lately, so I swung by to wish you a happy halloween & hope you are feeling well! Listen, I have another track up on my page, "Attack Of The Mushroom People." You can Hear it right Now, if you'd like at: www.myspace.com/psychedelicpablo adios for now! Pablo
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
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