Mambo: Track by Track
A look at the lyrics and themes on Remmy Ongala & Orchestre Super Matimila's album Mambo.
Mon, 02 March 92
Mambo
Remmy Ongala & Orchestre Super Matimila
Released 02 March 1992
- Dodoma
- One World
- I Want To Go Home
- Inchi Vetu (Our Country)
- What Can I Say? (Niseme Nini)
- No Money, No Life
- Living Together (Tupendane)
- Mrema
- Kidogo Kidogo (Little By Little)
Liner notes
Remmy Ongala and the band in sparkling form at the 1991 Real World Recording Week. A soulful and uplifting set, nurtured and given space by producer Rupert Hine. Intricate four-part guitar patterns interlock with bubbling bass lines, while the rhythm shifts seamlessly from a gentle lope to a galloping rhumba.
Remmy’s aim is to make people dance, but also to make them think. The voice of the Tanzanian always has something politically astute or deeply philosophical to say. His concerns are rooted in both the daily life of Dar es Salaam and politics on a global scale. By introducing English lyrics he widens his potential audience yet further.
Further Listening
-
Remmy Ongala & Orchestre Super Matimila
Released 23 September 1995
The voice and spirit of Tanzania captured live in selections from a decade of outstanding performances. Featuring recordings of live concerts in the UK and Sweden, alongside tracks from the 1984 Radio Tanzania sessions and recordings at Real World in 1993. -
Released 31 May 1998
Named in honour of his band, Molokai is a live studio performance from one of Africa's greatest stars. The album collects classic hits and newer songs from the late 90s by Papa Wemba and is produced by John Leckie.
Further reading
Real World Sessions: Remmy Ongala & Super Matimila, 17 August 1991
Rupert Hine and Stephen W Tayler look back on the 1991 session which yielded Remmy Ongala's 'Mambo'.
Fri, 24 August 18
The Real World Recording Week
Music journalist Johnny Black chronicles the famous Real World Recording Week 1991.
Mon, 02 July 18