Festival to celebrate Remmy Ongala’s music
Dar es Salaam. It is almost eight years since music icon Remmy Ongala passed on, bringing an end to an illustrious career that had made him traverse the globe often entertaining massive crowds with his Super Matimila Band.
There was only one Remmy Ongala, whose artistic depth and strength was quite unmatched, his contemporaries admit that they really miss him a great deal.
Dr Remmy Ongala was and still is an integral part of modern Tanzanian history and culture who continues to appeal to a wide range of age-groups and the fusion of musical styles.
To some, he represents in the same way that James Brown did to early purveyors of American Hip-Hop and Rap and to the rest of the world, one of East Africa’s most popular exports.
His songs are quite popular globally, ‘Kipenda Roho’, was used in Oliver Stone’s film ‘Natural Born Killers’ whereas the famous ‘Dodoma’ was a soundtrack on Long way Down by Ewan McGregor and Charly Boorman.
Posthumously Remmy Ongala’s works received the Hall of Fame accolade at the 2012 Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards.
His death was widely covered by the international press in the UK and the United States.
“A guitarist, singer, songwriter and bandleader who dominated the east African music scene with what his record company accurately described as serious dance music.... When his death was announced, his music was played nonstop on radio stations across the country...”- wrote The Guardian UK.
Whereas The New York Times wrote: He was a superstar in East Africa, and in the 1980s and 1990s he reached European and American audiences with albums for Real World, a label founded by Peter Gabriel, and international tours that included many appearances at Mr. Gabriel’s WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) festivals.
Though many agree that the void that was left by Ongala is yet to be filled, a new effort by one of his children is set to show case his music in two months time bringing together several genres on under the African stars.
Speaking to The Beat, Aziza Ongala says the festival aims to provide a platform for artistes across Africa and beyond, whilst promoting and showcasing local talent enabling both to come together.
“Remmy’s dream was to develop the fusion of different art forms and musical styles. We aim to provide opportunities for local artists to develop and grow through building international networks, hence contributing to the social, cultural and economic growth of Tanzania,” she says.
According to her the Ongala Music festival is intended to become a beacon of Tanzanian culture and artistry, with performances and happenings documented on film and through recordings.
“This way we hope to encourage an international audience to come to Tanzania as the reputation of the festival grows,” she says.
The festival which is organised under the Ongala foundation aims at promoting some of the things that Dr Remmy held so dearly in a career that spun over three decades across two countries.
“The foundation seeks to develop and promote and encourage artists to use their talents to sustain themselves in the long run, raise their aspirations and achieve a better quality of life,” says Aziza.
The festival is set to be commemorated by the East African release of, Dr Remmy Ongala’ bestselling albums by Peter Gabriel’s European Real World Record Label, in addition to, the internationally established Festival, WOMAD - World of Music, Arts and Dance.
“Ongala Music Festival is a unique three-day live music event taking place on Thursday 23rd to Saturday 25th August, 2018; in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam. We will be celebrating the music, life and legacy of Remmy Ongala (1947-2010),” says Aziza.
The first edition of the festival will feature various International artistes, young talented local artists and some of the older Tanzanian bands including a Remmy Ongala Tribute Band; made up of the remaining surviving members with Remmy’s youngest son on vocals.
“Musicians, artists and performers from Tanzania and across Africa will pay tribute by providing an assortment of entertainment, music and dance of various styles. Musicians will also have the rare opportunity to work with and perform Remmy’s music live,” she adds.
Some of the performers who have confirmed participation so far include Sitti and the Band from Zanzibar, King KiKi, Swahili Ally, Msafiri Zawose,, Carola Kinasha, Mlimani Park Orchestra, Leo Mkanyia. Others especially foreign musicians are yet to confirm but organisers are optimistic that they will iv due time.
But just like many other festivals in the country, they are struggling to make ends meet and they are on a vigourous fundraising drive to meet the deadline.
Who was Remmy Ongala?
Remmy Ongala and his seven-piece band, Orchestra Super Matimila were famous for fusing the melodic drive of Soukous, East African guitar styles, and Tanzanian rhythms, Ongala and the group accomplish their goal of inspiring audiences with their intellectual dance music.
While his songs focused on poverty, injustice, death, AIDS, institutional corruption, and romantic passion, Ongala used his melodic guitar playing skills and soulful vocals to lead Orchestra Super Matimila through an experience of infectious rhythms.
Born in Kivu region Eastern Zaire (now DRC), Ongala initially attracted attention as drummer and vocalist for the rumba band Bantu Success.
He left the group, in 1966, he devoted two years to his family before returning to music as a guitarist.
As a sideman, he worked with bands such as as Success Mwachame, Mickey Jazz, and Grand Mike Jazz. He left Zaire, in 1968, after he was offered a job by Dar es Salaam-based Soukous band, Orchestra Makassy.
Launching his solo career in 1980, Ongala joined Orchestra Matimila, a group that featured four guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, and a horn section of saxophone and trumpet and within a few months, Ongala had become the group’s leader.
The first two albums recorded under Ongala’s supervision -- Mambo and Songs For The Poor Man -- were recorded during Recording Week at Peter Gabriel’s Real World studios.
Ongala and Orchestra Super Matimila’s 1997 album, Sema, included tracks that were recorded in Sweden and the United Kingdom in 1994 and 1995, respectively, and tracks recorded at Radio Tanzania in 1984.
