How Congolese Soukous Guitarist Burkina Faso (Mboka Liya) Got His Stage Name & Other Information (with YouTube videos & sound file)

Odhis Jahburu, Feb. 9, 2013
 
Burkina Faso! Burkina Faso! Mboka Liya!!! live with JB and Wenge BCBG -snip- A commenter wrote that this performance may have occurred in 2006. **** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams presents four YouTube videos and one sound file of the very highly regarded Congolese Soukous guitarist Burkina Faso (Mboka Liya). The summary statements from some of these YouTube videos/sound files present some historical information about how Burkina Faso including got his nickname.

 (Unfortunately, there isn't a Wikipedia page on Mboka Liya as of September 10, 2022 although he is mentioned in a few other Wikipedia pages such as 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenge_Musica .)

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to Burkina Faso (Mboka Liya) for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who published these showcased videos/sound files on YouTube and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. **** PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE Here's a brief excerpt about the African nation named "Burkina Faso" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkina_Faso :

[Burkina Faso] "is a landlocked country in West Africa [that is] bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and the Ivory Coast to the southwest. It has a population of 20,321,378.[10] Previously called Republic of Upper Volta (1958–1984), it was renamed Burkina Faso by President Thomas Sankara. Its citizens are known as Burkinabè (/bɜːrˈkiːnəbeɪ/ bur-KEE-nə-beh), and its capital and largest city is Ouagadougou.

The largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso is the Mossi people, who settled the area in the 11th and 13th centuries. They established powerful kingdoms such as the Ouagadougou, Tenkodogo, and Yatenga. In 1896, it was colonized by the French as part of French West Africa; in 1958, Upper Volta became a self-governing colony within the French Community. In 1960, it gained full independence with Maurice Yaméogo as President."...

-end of quote-  https://www.britannica.com/place/Burkina-Faso indicates that "The name Burkina Faso, which means “Land of Incorruptible People”.
-end of quote-

Based on what I've read*, musician Malembe Chant gave the Congolese guitarist Vincent Kasongo the nickname "Burkina Faso" because Kasongo [had come] "fresh from the village" shortly before Malembe Chant happened upon him playing his guitar in the streets. Burkina Faso is a small, poor West African nation that Malembe Chant obviously considered "country" * compared to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

To support this position about why the now very highly regarded Congolese guitarist was given the nickname "Burkina Faso" and is also called "Mboka Liya", according to Google translate the Lingala meaning for "mboka" is "country". Google translate from Lingala to English doesn't give any results for "liya" or "lia". ("Mboka Liya" is also given as "Mboka Lia").

*One meaning for the adjective "country" to describe people is "people from rural areas who aren't sophisticated (cosmopolitan) like people from the city". Read the information about how Vincent Kasongo was given the name "Burkina Faso" in the summary for the sound file that is immediately below.

Additions and corrections are very welcome.

**** SHOWCASE YOUTUBE SOUND FILE - 🎸Bourkina Faso Mboka Liya🎸 Wenge Guitar Melodies 🎶(1990's-2000's)🎶



Afro World Musique🎶, Sep 13, 2017 [This sound file is slightly more than 2 hours in length).

FEATURING THE BEST OF MBOKA LIYA!!! Good Congolese Music!!

Helloooo! Bonjour!! Holla!!!!! Welcome to the volume of Sebenology, this time featuring the talented Bourkina Faso Mboka Liya! In 1986 at Kingasani, he was a cabri seller. One day, he will be surprised by Malembe Chant (musician of victoria Eleison) playing guitar. He was invited by Malembe Chant to join his band Select Musica where he mentored the young musicians of his neighborhood Kisangani but Serge Kasongo refused, according to him he risked being ridiculed by the Kinois as he came fresh from the village and his accent "Lingala" was not Kinois.

After being convinced by Malembe Chant, Serge Kasongo will join select Musica where he will be christened Burkinafaso Le Mugu Mugamba by Malembe Chant.    

Under the supervision of Malambe Chant, Burkinafaso will become a great guitarist in Kingasani before being known throughout the city of Kinshasa. 

When he opted to play in a large orchestra, he preferred Choc stars of Ben Nyamabo. He is from Bandundu, his whereabouts, some say Bayanzi, some say Muyaka, its a never-ending mystery lol.  In the mid-late 1990's, he started "le pigeon voyageur" he went back in forth between Defao's Big Stars (Amour Interdit, Sala Noki, Les Carlots, Amour Scolaire) and Wenge BCBG (Titanic, Zenith, Olympia, T.H., Pentagone, Boston Live, Abidjan Live). He also played with Bozi Boziana's Anti Choc at a couple time (Ma Raison d'Etre; Heros Ya Congo).

Around 2000, he left Wenge BCBG for Wenge Maison Mere de Werrason and was featured in the successful Bercy concert. Atalaku Bill Clinton Kalondji was enthusiastic by his style that he coined specific animations just for him on "Terrain Eza Mine" (2000). Burkina and Maison Mere participated couple of concerts related to the release of Werrason's solo album "Kibuisa Mpimpa/Operation Dragon" (2001) where he plays on Operation Dragon generique, Annie and Le Vent de Soir. In 2004, he will return to Wenge BCBG and be featured on Anti Terro and featured in some concerts. Again "Le Pigeon Voyageur", he's always looking for some projects to work. Currently settled in London, England, he accompanies artists on concerts such as Kanda Bongo Man, Renato Mundele (also played with Defao), Jeannot Bell (check out the channel Soukous Congo), Nzaya Nzayadio (also was in Choc Stars), etc. Plesir!"...

**** SHOWCASE YOUTUBE VIDEO #2: THE CRAFT OF SOUKOUS GUITAR BY BURKINA FASO MBOKA LIYA

Stv Pro, July 5, 2012

This is 1:40 Hour tutorial DVD, 20 gruelling Exercises plus lots of professional advice ,In this tutorial DVD Mr Mboka is demonstrating slowly how he played those famous solo guitar (licks) Burkina Faso whose real name is Vincent Kasongo Kiamfu. One day while playing guitar Malembe Chant saw him and invited him to join his band Select Musica. Malembe Chant finally convinced him and he joined the band, Malembe baptised him Burkina Faso Mugu Mugamba. It is well-known Master of the Congolese music. Later he joined Choc Stars and with them he made his first recording, it was Debaba's song Pafuti. He also played for a while with Anti Choc and Defao & Big Stars and he recorded the song ( L'Amour Scolaire in 1992).As well as Madilu System , Gataux Beven and Many More ... In 1994 Fataki Tabou left Wenge Musica 4x4 for Viva la Musica and Burkina Faso left Big Stars to replace him, Mbokaliya and Alain Makaba were two top class guitarists . When Wenge split he joined Werrason in Maison Mere but later re-joined JB Mpiana in BCBG. Burkina Faso had already played songs like Kapita, Pacte du vin, Nazareth and many others of JB Mpiana and BCBG while he was with Select Musica, these songs were later sold to JB Mpiana's band by a former member of Select Musica called Senado, an older brother of Chai Ngenge. Being restless he also left JB Mpiana and created his own band Wenge Tout Terrain which he left in the middle of the recording of a maxi single to join Nouvelle Ecriture as a third guitarist. For his band members this was a big disillusion and his fans were angry as well, they hoped he would not last long with Papa Wemba. With wengeBCBG he played on some songs on " feux de l'amour" and also some important concerts in Europe and USA , Canada and Africa . Now Burkina Faso is based in London- England as freelance session and Private guitar teacher. -snip-
I reformatted this summary to increase its readability.

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SHOWCASE YOUTUBE VIDEO #3: Seben Burkina Faso

MAT A DIT ET TOI?, Jun 16, 2018

**** SHOWCASE YOUTUBE VIDEO #4: 👉BURKINAFASSO MBOKALIYA : MES ŒUVRES PARLENT À MA PLACE💥

Papy Masuta HD, Oct 21, 2020

nous poursuivons notre rubrique sur les artistes dont le role a parfois été ignoré. j'aimerais aujourdhui vous parler d'un autre soliste pas comme les autres, au nom de Serge Kasongo Mbokaliya, plus connu sous le pseudo de Burkinafaso. C'est l'un des plus grands solistes guitaristes de la RDCONGO de la génération wenge musica 4x4 en 1994, viva la musica, proche de choc stars, anti choc, big stars, wenge bcbg, wenge maison mére, minzoto wela wela etc, abonnez-vous gratuitement sur papy masuta hd. -snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"we continue our column on artists whose role has sometimes been overlooked. Today I would like to talk to you about another soloist like no other, in the name of Serge Kasongo Mbokaliya, better known under the pseudonym Burkinafaso. He is one of the greatest guitar soloists of the DRCONGO of the wenge musica 4x4 generation in 1994, viva la musica, close to choc stars, anti choc, big stars, wenge bcbg, wenge maison mére, minzoto wela wela etc, subscribe for free on papy masuta hd. "
**** Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.

Information & Videos About West African Mud Cloth (Bololanfini)

Edited by Azizi Powell

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba at the Jools Holland 2007



reebeeking | March 10, 2008
live Mali Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Africa

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This post provides information & videos of bògòlanfini ("mud cloth") and is provided for historical, educational, and aesthetic reasons.

My thanks to the video uploaders, producers, and all the artists associated with this post.

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INFORMATION ON MUD CLOTH

From http://www.ibike.org/africaguide/textile/textile1.htm

There are several mud cloth in West Africa. The most prominent is said to have originated with the women of Mali where it is called Bogolan cloth or Bogolanfini (a composite of bogo, meaning "earth" or "mud"; lan, meaning "with" or "by means of"; and fini, meaning "cloth".) One center of high quality Bogolanfini production is the town of San, so it is sometimes referred to as San Cloth.

Traditionally, Bambara (Bamanan) women, as well as those of the Minianka, Senufo, Dogon, and other ethnic groups, produced the cloth for important life events and taught the process to their daughters. Men, especially hunters, wore it for hunts and celebrations. Today, both women and men make mud cloth for sale in markets, and Malian students study it at the arts academy.

-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B2g%C3%B2lanfini

Bògòlanfini or bogolan ("mud cloth") ... has an important place in traditional Malian culture and has, more recently, become a symbol of Malian cultural identity. The cloth is being exported worldwide for use in fashion, fine art and decoration.

The technique is associated with several Malian ethnic groups, but the Bambaran version has become best known outside Mali...

In traditional Malian culture, bògòlanfini is worn by hunters, serving as camouflage, as ritual protection and as a badge of status. Women are wrapped in bògòlanfini after their initiation into adulthood (which includes genital cutting) and immediately after childbirth, as the cloth is believed to have the power to absorb the dangerous forces released under such circumstances...

Bògòlanfini patterns are rich in cultural significance, referring to historical events (such as a famous battle between a Malian warrior and the French), crocodiles (significant in Bambara mythology) or other objects, mythological concepts or proverbs. Since about 1980, Bògòlanfini has become a symbol of Malian cultural identity and is being promoted as such by the Malian government.

-snip-
Editorial statement: For the record, I am very opposed to female circumcision. However, my admiration for mud cloth is separate from that particular use for that cloth.

Also note that mud cloth is also traditionally made in Burkina Faso, West Africa (see video #2 and read the uploader's comments).

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FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1:
This video is placed at the top of this post.
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngoni_(instrument) for information on the ngoni musical instrument.

Also, click http://www.jambalayah.com/node/1148 for Part 2 of my series on "Traditional Musical Instruments Worldwide" which includes information on Ngoni Ba, as well as more information about the ngoni.

Video #3 below showcases annother type of ngoni (donso ngoni).

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Video #2: More than Mud - Coulibaly & Brothers, Burkina Faso



Ten Thousand Villages, Uploaded on Jun 17, 2010

From http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/catalog/product.list.php?cart_artisan_id=6
"Habibou Coulibaly named his workshop Coulibaly and Brothers because he considers everyone who works there his brother.

Coulibaly and Brothers is one of 20 ...workshops that Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Burkina Faso represents. Habibou Coulibaly and his 'brothers' have been making bogolan (mud cloth or 'batik') in the same way hunters in Burkina Faso have for centuries. Hunters used the mud cloth as a way to disguise themselves by changing their sent and among these hunters there were some who added designs. Habibou learned how to do the mud cloth dying process with his grandmother.

Mud cloth is created using natural dies including one produced from the leaves of the sycamore tree. The artisans use brushes and stencils to apply the design to the mud cloth. Women, who traditionally weave the cloth, are now beginning to learn how to do the bogolan or mud 'batik' work as well.

Today Coulibaly's workshop includes 8 artisans and 25 to 30 more people when they are busy with orders. Habibou states that fair trade provides just pay and is helping to change lives in their community. Their work and income helps to unite them and provides them with a decent living.

Because of the work provided by the workshop people now have a mode of transportation where they were before walking by foot. Habibou wants customers to understand that they are not only buying a product but they are also assisting in development. The sales of products provide employment, which eliminates poverty. Habibou wants customers to see the energy and the life of the artisan in their bogolan works of art.

"Don't just look at the price of the product but most of all see the image of the artisan." -- Habibou When you purchase a product at Ten Thousand Villages like this mud cloth, you are purchasing more than a beautiful product. Your purchase assists in development, reduces poverty and takes the image of the artisan into your home."

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Video #3: Mud Cloth | African Print Diaries | LAJA



Ashan-wa Aliogo, Published on Sep 10, 2017

Halla halla, I discuss Malian mud cloth today and share a couple tips on how to authenticate, it's presentation in fashion and more :)
-snip-
This video replaces one that is no longer available.

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RELATED VIDEO:
Cloth Dyers of Mali: Self-Empowered Women



Maureen Gosling, Uploaded on Aug 15, 2008

This is a sample for a one-hour film BAMAKO CHIC, which celebrates the legacy of a small group of dyers whose creativity fueled cloth dyeing into a national commodity in Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world. Stay tuned for the completed film!


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