Ndombe Opetum
Encyclopedia
Ndombe Opetum popularly known as Pepe, is a soukous
recording artist, composer
and vocalist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC). He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz
which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s.
had left the band. He came over to OKJazz with horn player Empopo Loway, and he stayed with the band until it split up in December 1993, four years after the death of founder François Luambo Makiadi
. Contemporary band members at the time included vocalists: Wuta Mayi
, Michel Boyibanda
, Josky Kiambukuta and Youlou Mabiala
, and rhythm guitar
ist Simaro Lutumba
and solo guitarist
Franco himself.
Ndombe Opetum is credited with composing the following songs for the band, among others:
, Josky Kiambukuta and about thirty (30) former OK Jazz members, formed a new band called Bana OK in January 1994.
on 3 March 1974, who is also a professional vocalist in the DRC. The young Ndombe calls himself Baby Ndombe or Baby Black, and has performed to large audiences in Africa
, Europe
and North America
, targeting primarily the African Diaspora
.
Soukous
Soukous is a dance music genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa...
recording artist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and vocalist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(DRC). He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz
OK Jazz
TPOK Jazz, originally known as OK Jazz, was a rumba band in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from June 1956 until December 1993.-Location:...
which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s.
Music career with OKJazz
Ndombe Opetum was the lead vocalist for Afrisa International, prior to joining TPOK Jazz, in the mid 1970s, after Sam MangwanaSam Mangwana
Sam Mangwana, born February 21, 1945, is a Congolese musician, born to a Zimbabwean migrant father and an Angolan mother. He is the frontman of his bands Festival des maquisards and African All Stars....
had left the band. He came over to OKJazz with horn player Empopo Loway, and he stayed with the band until it split up in December 1993, four years after the death of founder François Luambo Makiadi
Francois Luambo Makiadi
François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi was a major figure in twentieth century Congolese music, and African music in general. He is widely referred to as Franco Luambo or, simply, Franco. Known for his mastery of rumba, he was nicknamed the "Sorcerer of the Guitar" for his seemingly effortlessly fluid...
. Contemporary band members at the time included vocalists: Wuta Mayi
Wuta Mayi
Gaspard Wuta Mayi, commonly known as Wuta Mayi, is a soukous recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Michel Boyibanda
Michel Boyibanda
Michel Boyibanda, is a soukous recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . He was once a member of the soukous band TPOK Jazz, led by François Luambo Makiadi, which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1950s through the 1980s.-See also:* Franco Luambo...
, Josky Kiambukuta and Youlou Mabiala
Youlou Mabiala
Gilbert Youlou Mabiala , popularly known as Prince Youlou, is a soukous recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Republic of the Congo...
, and rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
ist Simaro Lutumba
Simaro Lutumba
Simaro Massiya Lutumba Ndomemueno , popularly known as Simaro, is a soukous rhythm guitarist and songwriter, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz which dominated the Congolese scene from 1960s through the 1980s.-Music career with...
and solo guitarist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
Franco himself.
Ndombe Opetum is credited with composing the following songs for the band, among others:
- Voyage ya Bandundu
- Mawe
- Mabe Yo Mabe - In 1977
- Coupe du Monde - 1979
- Youyou - In 1980
- Angela - In 1989
- Tawaba - In 1989
Music career post OKJazz
Following the death of Franco in 1989, TPOK Jazz continued to play together for four (4) years. Simarro would take care of the musicians and the family would take care of the lawyers, record labels and other technical stakeholders. The musicians would share 70% of receipts, while the Franco family would keep 30% of all receipts. However, differences developed between the musicians and the Franco family and the band split up in December 1993. Ndombe Opetum, together with Simaro LutumbaSimaro Lutumba
Simaro Massiya Lutumba Ndomemueno , popularly known as Simaro, is a soukous rhythm guitarist and songwriter, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz which dominated the Congolese scene from 1960s through the 1980s.-Music career with...
, Josky Kiambukuta and about thirty (30) former OK Jazz members, formed a new band called Bana OK in January 1994.
Personal details
Pepe Ndombe Opetum is married as is the father of nine (9) children. His fifth offspring is a son, born in KinshasaKinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
on 3 March 1974, who is also a professional vocalist in the DRC. The young Ndombe calls himself Baby Ndombe or Baby Black, and has performed to large audiences in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, targeting primarily the African Diaspora
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
.
External links
Photos
See also
- Franco Luambo Makiadi
- Sam MangwanaSam MangwanaSam Mangwana, born February 21, 1945, is a Congolese musician, born to a Zimbabwean migrant father and an Angolan mother. He is the frontman of his bands Festival des maquisards and African All Stars....
- Josky Kiambukuta
- TPOK Jazz
- List of African musicians