Orchestra Maquis Original
Encyclopedia
Orchestra Maquis Original is a Tanzania
n muziki wa dansi
band, originally from DR Congo
. Founded in 1970
and still in activity, it is one of the most long-lived dansi bands.
(then Zaire
, now DR Congo
) by a group of musicians from soukous
band "Super Teo". In 1972 they were invited to play in Kampala
, Uganda
, and on the way there performed a few gigs in Tanzania
. This experience triggered their decision to relocate to Kinondoni
, a district of Dar es Salaam
.
As most Tanzanian bands of the time, Orchestra Maquis Original was sponsored by the Tanzanian government and, from a commercial point of view, was managed as a cooperative
; the cooperative actually had other businesses besides music (e.g., it owned a farm
). The leader of the band was also president of the cooperative. The first leader/president of Orchestra Maquis was saxophonist
Chinyama Chianza, who served in both roles until his death in 1985.
In the 1970s the band became very popular with its mtindo (style) kamanyola bila jasho, which roughly translates to "dance kamanyola without sweating".
The next leader after Chianza's death was guitar
ist Nguza Mbangu, who was famous for his soloing
technique (two of his most appreciated solos are those in songs Mpenzi Luta and Mabruki). In 1987, Mbangu left Orchestra Maquis to get involved with several other projects (he would later create another notable dansi band, Orchestra Safari Sound
). The new leader of the band was singer Mbuya Makonga. Subsequent leaders of Maquis include Thsimanga Assosa and Ilunga Mbanza. Assosa wrote some of the most recent hit songs of Maquis, such as Makumbele and Ngalula; those songs also showcased guitarist Dekula Kahanga's talent. Kahanga would later become a successful guitarist on his own; he has now relocated in Sweden
.
Over time, Orchestra Maquis has explored a number of mitindo (styles). Besides kamanyola, some of the most popular mitindo by Maquis were sanifu, ogelea piga mbizi (literally: "swim and dive") and zembwela.
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
n muziki wa dansi
Muziki wa dansi
Muziki wa dansi , or simply dansi, is a Tanzanian music genre, derivative of Congolese soukous. It is sometimes called Swahili jazz because most dansi lyrics are in Swahili, and "jazz" is an umbrella term used in Central and Eastern Africa to refer to soukous, highlife, and other dance music and...
band, originally from DR 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...
. Founded in 1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
and still in activity, it is one of the most long-lived dansi bands.
History
The band was founded in 1970 in LubumbashiLubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
(then Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
, now DR 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...
) by a group of musicians from soukous
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...
band "Super Teo". In 1972 they were invited to play in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, and on the way there performed a few gigs in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. This experience triggered their decision to relocate to Kinondoni
Kinondoni
Kinondoni District is the northernmost of three districts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the others being Temeke and Ilala . To the east is the Indian Ocean, to the north and west the Pwani Region of Tanzania. The 2002 Tanzanian National Census showed that the population of Kinondoni was 1,083,913...
, a district of Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
.
As most Tanzanian bands of the time, Orchestra Maquis Original was sponsored by the Tanzanian government and, from a commercial point of view, was managed as a cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
; the cooperative actually had other businesses besides music (e.g., it owned a farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
). The leader of the band was also president of the cooperative. The first leader/president of Orchestra Maquis was saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Chinyama Chianza, who served in both roles until his death in 1985.
In the 1970s the band became very popular with its mtindo (style) kamanyola bila jasho, which roughly translates to "dance kamanyola without sweating".
The next leader after Chianza's death was guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Nguza Mbangu, who was famous for his soloing
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
technique (two of his most appreciated solos are those in songs Mpenzi Luta and Mabruki). In 1987, Mbangu left Orchestra Maquis to get involved with several other projects (he would later create another notable dansi band, Orchestra Safari Sound
Orchestra Safari Sound
Orchestra Safari Sound was a major Tanzanian muziki wa dansi band in the 1970s. Along with Orchestra Maquis Original, OSS contributed to the evolution of dansi, introducing a slower paced and more melodic style that further differentiated dansi from its ancestor genre, the Congolese soukous...
). The new leader of the band was singer Mbuya Makonga. Subsequent leaders of Maquis include Thsimanga Assosa and Ilunga Mbanza. Assosa wrote some of the most recent hit songs of Maquis, such as Makumbele and Ngalula; those songs also showcased guitarist Dekula Kahanga's talent. Kahanga would later become a successful guitarist on his own; he has now relocated in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Over time, Orchestra Maquis has explored a number of mitindo (styles). Besides kamanyola, some of the most popular mitindo by Maquis were sanifu, ogelea piga mbizi (literally: "swim and dive") and zembwela.