Congo Colossus : the life and legacy of Franco & OK Jazz by Ewens Graeme

Author:Ewens, Graeme
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Franco, 1938-1989, OK Jazz (Musical group), Jazz musicians
Publisher: North Walsham, Norfolk : Buku Press
Published: 1994-05-27T04:00:00+00:00

CONGO COLOSSUS

who played solo and accompanying guitar as well as covering on bass. He also composed several of Thu Zaina's biggest hits. Some twenty of their numbers were recorded for release on Franco's label, Editions Populaires, for which payment came in the form of instruments and amplifiers.

The big man's sponsorship of the original new wave group was not the blessing it first appeared. As Gege recalled, the deal had a kind of built-in self-destruction, which he suspects might have been planned deliberately by Franco as a way to neutralise any new competition. After two years all the band's equipment had mysteriously disappeared or broken and Thu Zaina were almost destitute. Gege himself recalls 'losing' two guitars in circumstances which he could never unravel. He accepted Franco's invitation to sit in with OK Jazz, while still hoping to revive the fortunes of Thu Zaina. One day, just before a show, Franco spoke to Gege alone. "Young man," he said enigmatically, "you see I have a big appetite and my stomach is not yet full. Remember, my appetite is still not yet satisfied." He then waved the youngster on to the stage. After the show, Gege conferred with one of the elders in the band who advised him that Franco was hungry to 'chop' any musician who challenged him. From then on, he had to accept that Thu Zaina was finished, and that he had been absorbed into OK Jazz.

Rumba in the jungle

1974 was the year of the big international launch party for the recently renamed country, and the one event which brought the name of Zaire to the world's notice was the legendary world heavyweight championship title fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, publicised by the Western media as the 'Rumble in the Jungle'(even though the tropical rain forests are hundreds of miles from Kinshasa). The internationally acclaimed African horn players, Hugh Masekela and Manu Dibango, flew

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