Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a sound file of the song "Independence Cha Cha" composed by Joseph "Grand Kalle" Kabasele and performed by the renown Congolese band "African Jazz". This post also information about Joseph "Grand Kalle" Kabasele , information about the song "Independence Cha Cha", the English lyrics for that song, and selected comments from this sound file's YouTube viewer comment thread.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All content remain with their owners.
Thanks to Joseph "Grand Kalle" Kabasele and the other musicians and singers featured on this record for their musical legacy. Thanks to the publisher of this sound file on Youtube and thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
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INFORMATION ABOUT JOSEPH "GRAND KALLE" KABASELE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Grand_Kall%C3%A9
"Joseph Athanase Tchamala Kabaselleh (16 December 1930 in Matadi, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) – 11 February 1983 in Paris, France), popularly known as Le Grand Kallé, was a Congolese singer and bandleader, considered the father of modern Congolese music...
He came from a prominent Congolese family, which included Cardinal Joseph Malula[2] Kallé went to secondary school and became a typist at a succession of commercial firms in the capital of the Belgian Congo, Léopoldville.
In the early 1950s at a new recording studio called Opika he received an opportunity to pursue a career in music.[2][clarification needed] His first group was OTC, led by George Doula.[1]
In 1953, disillusioned with the lack of modernisation at OTC, he formed l'African Jazz which thought to be the most important Congolese band.[1] L'African Jazz was one of the most popular early African Rumba bands. At its height, L'African Jazz included big names like guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, saxophonist Manu Dibango and singers Tabu Ley Rochereau, Sam Mangwana and Pepe Kalle.[3]"...
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Grand_Kall%C3%A9_et_l%27African_Jazz for information about the band "African Jazz".
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "INDEPENDANCE CHA CHA"
From http://www.nationalanthems.us/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1103579751 written by Jan December 14, 2004
"The "Indépendance Cha-cha" was written by the famous Congolese Singer Joseph Kabasele (also known as Kabasele Kale) in 1959, when the Round Table talks about a future indepencence of the Belgian Congo were held in Brussels. In a half humorous, half political way, the author asks the politicians and political movements of his country to put their differences aside and to join their efforts to achieve independence.
The patriotic dancing song, which met the musical taste of many urban Congolese people in the dancing halls at that time, was performed for the first time in February 1960, about four months before the declaration of independence of the Congo took place on 30th June 1960. During the turbulent period after independence, it became a quintessential tune not only for Congo-Léopoldville, but also for whole Africa, which obtained independence during the early 1960s.
Sadly, Kabasele Kale's appeal for unity was not heared in the Congo, and the political differences soon led to a civil war."
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE
Grand Kalle - Independance Cha Cha
Sir82000, Uploaded on Jul 1, 2008
An old school track about my country's independance, enjoy the real african beat!
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LYRICS: INDEPENDENCE CHA CHA (in English)
English translation version by Franklin Katunda
Ref: Independance cha-cha declared
Oh Freedom cha-cha we've conquered
At the Round Table they won
Oh Liberty cha-cha we've conquered!
1. Asoreco and Abako
United as one
Conakat and Cartel
had joined the Front commun.
Bolikango, Kasavubu, Lumumba and Kalondji
Bolya, Tshombe, Kamitatu, oh Essandja, and Elder Kanza.
2. The Mnc, the Ugeco
Abazi and Pdc
The Psa and African Jazz Band
were all victorious at the Round Table!
Note:
ASORECO, ABAKO, CONAKAT, CARTEL, FRONT COMMUN, MNC, PDC, UGECO, ABAZI and PSA were the Congolese political parties that participated at the Round Table. African Jazz was the Musical Band which originally performed the "Indépendance Cha-cha". Jean Bolikango, Paul Bolya, Moise Tshombe, Albert Kalondji, Cleophas Kamitatu, Essandja and Mbuta Daniel Kanza were leaders of political and/or separatist movements in Congo.
Patrice Lumumba was the first prime minister of the independent Congo (assassinated in January 1961) and Joseph Kasavubu was the first President of the Congo.
Source: http://www.nationalanthems.us/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1103579751 written by Jan December 14, 2004
-snip-
Click that link for lyrics for this song in Lingala (its original version) and in French.
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE EMBEDDED VIDEO'S VIEWER COMMENT THREAD
These selected comments are presented in chronological order based on the year of their YouTube posting date. The oldest dates are given first. These comments may not be in consecutive order.
2008
yvesfrancois
perfect record, and a great homage to two of the greatest people (actually 3): grand kalle, patrice lumumba and docteur nico's excellent guitar solo (BTW: did you know that tabu ley is not on this record, but franco et ok jazz's vocalist vicky is), all the best, yves francois
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2010
EYOMA1
God bless africa and this tune which stand for all african's countries independance day
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2012
Eric Zadio
the african's rumba start.
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ccrider
how Cuban records first got over to the Congo in the 30's and 40's who knows, but the link between Cuba and Africa can't be denied. Afro Cubano music developed on it's own across the Atlantic and then a few hundred years later it goes back and influenced Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz, which kicked off a whole new sound in the Congo and beyond. wonderful!
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Didier J. MARY
06/30/1960 Congo's independence...
Here's, probably, the mother of all independence songs, by Joseph Kabasele Tshamala aka Grand Kalle.
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PAM Genome
Certainly! one of the greatest Independence songs
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ccrider
Dr Nico Kasanda on the guitar, he would go on to develop soukous music.
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