Bonga (musician)
Encyclopedia
Bonga Kwenda better known as Bonga, is a folk
and semba
singer and songwriter from Angola
. Bonga was born in 1943 in the province of Bengo
, and left Angola at age 23 to become an athlete
, becoming the Portuguese record holder for the 400 metres
(Angola was at the time one of Portugal's five African colonies
). He had already begun his singing career at age 15.
Bonga abandoned athletics in 1972, concentrating solely on his music, and immediately became famous in his native Angola, as well as in Portugal
. After the Carnation Revolution
in April 1974, he would become a hit both with immigrants from the ex-Portuguese colonies, and Portuguese of both African and European descent. He has released over 30 albums, singing in Portuguese
and traditional Angolan languages. His tracks are a mixture of Portuguese folk sounds, semba
, kizomba
and latin elements.
While Angola was still a Portuguese colony
, Bonga was an outspoken supporter of independence. This led him to be exiled from Angola in the early 1970s. It was during this time that he launched his first album, Angola 72.
At this time, Portugal was ruled by the repressive, right-wing Estado Novo regime government, founded by Salazar
. Bonga's status as a Portuguese star athlete allowed him the rare freedom of movement, which he used to carry messages between exiled freedom fighters and compatriots still in Angola. As the movement for independence heated up, Bonga was forced into exile in Rotterdam
, where, in 1972, he recorded his first record Angola 72 and adopted the name Bonga Kwenda. A warrant for Bonga's arrest was issued in Angola for the seditious lyrics of the album, forcing him to move nomadically between Germany, Belgium and France until Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975 due to the events of the Carnation Revolution
. While in Europe, Bonga met other Portuguese-speaking musicians and adopted the sounds of Samba into his already diverse music style.
After independence, the new Angolan government took Angola's best solo acts and founded and supported an orchestra called "Semba Tropical" . The purpose was to revive the lost music industry described by a ministry spokesman during the bands tour in Europe in the mid-1980s:
"We had great problems because of the war for independence. When the Portuguese left they dismantled some of the basic structure by smashing and sabotaging equipment and we had to start from scratch. After independence there were no bands at all. Those which were formed were not active because they had no instruments."
After Angola's independence Bonga had established main residence in Lisbon
, and lived for some time periods in Paris
and Angola. As post-colonial life in Angola disintegrated into corruption, squalor, brutality, and an interminable and bloody civil war
, Bonga remained critical of the political leaders on all sides. Bonga's voice of peace and conscience continues to make him a hero to the people of Angola no matter where he resides. He remains fiercely dedicated to the ideal of nonviolence, he states simply: "We must live without harming others".
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and semba
Semba
Semba is a traditional type of music from the Southern-African country of Angola. Semba comes from the singular Masemba, meaning "a touch of the bellies", a move that characterizes the Semba dance.-Characteristics:...
singer and songwriter from Angola
Angola (Portugal)
Angola is the common name by which the Portuguese colony in southwestern Africa was known across different periods of time...
. Bonga was born in 1943 in the province of Bengo
Bengo (province)
Bengo is a province of Angola. Its capital is Caxito. According to 1988 statistics, there were 18,700 people living in urban areas with 137,400 in rural areas, with a total of 156,100 residents...
, and left Angola at age 23 to become an athlete
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
, becoming the Portuguese record holder for the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
(Angola was at the time one of Portugal's five African colonies
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
). He had already begun his singing career at age 15.
Bonga abandoned athletics in 1972, concentrating solely on his music, and immediately became famous in his native Angola, as well as in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. After the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
in April 1974, he would become a hit both with immigrants from the ex-Portuguese colonies, and Portuguese of both African and European descent. He has released over 30 albums, singing in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
and traditional Angolan languages. His tracks are a mixture of Portuguese folk sounds, semba
Semba
Semba is a traditional type of music from the Southern-African country of Angola. Semba comes from the singular Masemba, meaning "a touch of the bellies", a move that characterizes the Semba dance.-Characteristics:...
, kizomba
Kizomba
Kizomba is one of the most popular genres of dance and music created in Angola. Derived directly from Zouk, sung generally in Portuguese, it is a genre of music with a romantic flow mixed with African rhythm. The kizomba dancing style is also known to be very sensual.- Origin :Kizomba was developed...
and latin elements.
While Angola was still a Portuguese colony
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
, Bonga was an outspoken supporter of independence. This led him to be exiled from Angola in the early 1970s. It was during this time that he launched his first album, Angola 72.
At this time, Portugal was ruled by the repressive, right-wing Estado Novo regime government, founded by Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar
António de Oliveira Salazar, GColIH, GCTE, GCSE served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. He also served as acting President of the Republic briefly in 1951. He founded and led the Estado Novo , the authoritarian, right-wing government that presided over and controlled Portugal...
. Bonga's status as a Portuguese star athlete allowed him the rare freedom of movement, which he used to carry messages between exiled freedom fighters and compatriots still in Angola. As the movement for independence heated up, Bonga was forced into exile in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, where, in 1972, he recorded his first record Angola 72 and adopted the name Bonga Kwenda. A warrant for Bonga's arrest was issued in Angola for the seditious lyrics of the album, forcing him to move nomadically between Germany, Belgium and France until Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975 due to the events of the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
. While in Europe, Bonga met other Portuguese-speaking musicians and adopted the sounds of Samba into his already diverse music style.
After independence, the new Angolan government took Angola's best solo acts and founded and supported an orchestra called "Semba Tropical" . The purpose was to revive the lost music industry described by a ministry spokesman during the bands tour in Europe in the mid-1980s:
"We had great problems because of the war for independence. When the Portuguese left they dismantled some of the basic structure by smashing and sabotaging equipment and we had to start from scratch. After independence there were no bands at all. Those which were formed were not active because they had no instruments."
After Angola's independence Bonga had established main residence in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, and lived for some time periods in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Angola. As post-colonial life in Angola disintegrated into corruption, squalor, brutality, and an interminable and bloody civil war
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
, Bonga remained critical of the political leaders on all sides. Bonga's voice of peace and conscience continues to make him a hero to the people of Angola no matter where he resides. He remains fiercely dedicated to the ideal of nonviolence, he states simply: "We must live without harming others".
Albums
- Angola 72 (1972)
- Angola 74 (1974)
- Raízes (1975)
- Angola 76 (1976)
- Racines (1978)
- KandanduKandandu-Track listing:#"Sambila" #"Mambia"#"Um Kandandu Amigo"#"Saudades Terras Enclaves"#"Mindjeris de Pano Preto"#"Nguzo"#"Iokangue"...
(1980 - Kualuka KuetuKualuka Kuetu-The Musicians:*"Sebastião Rocha" – guitar, ungu*"Carlos Nascimento"- guitar*"Miguel Yamba" – bass guitar*"Mateus Russel" – sax, flute*"José Boto" - drums*"Maria Contreiras"- percussion, vocals*"Florêncio Costa" – vocals*"Jacqueline Lagier" – vocals...
(1983) - MarikaMarika- Nicknames :Mari, Mariczka, Mariczika, Marka, Riky, Mara, Maja, Mariska, Marcsa, Marcsi, Marica, Rikas, Rastas, Ricky- Famous bearers :*Marika Siewert, a Canadian recording artist and music producer*Marika Kotopouli, a Greek actress...
(1984) - SentimentoSentimento (Bonga album)- Original LP track listing :Side One#"Não Acode"#"Tempos de Caprandanda"#"Mukenji"#"Xica"Side Two#"Kisselenguenha"#"Kissueia"#"Kua Sanzala"#"Ilha do Cabo"...
(1985) - MassembaMassemba-Track listing:#"Santo António" – 1:48 #"Santana" – 4:05#"Galinha Kassafa" – 3:30#"Kilombelombe" – 6:00#"Rumba Miloca" – 4:31#"Anami" – 4:18#"Sopio mu Dibuim" – 4:18#"Difuba" – 3:14...
(1987) - Reflexão (1988)
- Malembe Malembe (1989)
- Diaka (1990)
- Jingonça (1991)
- Paz em Angola (1991)
- Gerações (1992)
- Mutamba (1993)
- Tropicalíssimo (1993)
- Traditional Angolan Music (1993)
- Fogo na Kanjica (1994)
- O Homem do Saco (1995)
- Preto e Branco (1996)
- Roça de Jindungo (1997)
- Dendém de Açúcar (1998)
- Falar de Assim (1999)
- Mulemba XangolaMulemba XangolaBonga became well known in the early 1970s, and when the 21st century arrived, he still commanded a loyal following in Southern Africa. It was in Portugal that Bonga produced Mulemba Xangola for the French Lusafrica label...
(2001) - KaxexeKaxexeBonga 's 2003 album Kaxexe finds the expatriate Angolan singer with the gruff, expressive voice performing with the largely acoustic Semba Master band, which conceives percolating rhythms and melodic guitar and accordion passages to accompany his introspective lyrics...
(2003) - MaioraisMaiorais-Track listing:#"Aname" #"Cheiro do Mato"#"São Salvador"#"Maiorais"#"Rebitanga"#"Banga Fukula"#"Cenas de Gaby"#"Xica Cambuta"#"Male"#"Santo António"#"Kuriondo Kanhoca"#"Tacinha"#"Sambila"...
(2004) - Bairro (2009)
Compilations
- Angola (1988)
- Paz em Angola (1991)
- KatenduKatenduThis is a compilation from Reflexão, Malembe-Malembe, Diaka and Gerações albums.-Track listing:#"Olhos Molhados" #"Zé Kitumba"#"Camacove"#"Malembe-Malembe"#"Portas da Banda"#"Avijota"#"Praça"#"Diaka"#"Frutas de Vontade"#"Sarabanda"#"Hungu de Angola"...
(1993) - 20 Sucessos de Ouro (1995)
- Onda Sonora: Red Hot + LisbonOnda Sonora: Red Hot + LisbonOnda Sonora: Red Hot + Lisbon is the eleventh entry in the Red Hot Benefit Series of compilation albums. The album and related television special were both created by the Red Hot Organization , an international organization whose objective in this project is to raise AIDS awareness in the...
, AIDS-Benefit Album produced by the Red Hot OrganizationRed Hot OrganizationRed Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
, contributed the track "Mulemba Xangola" (1998)