Simaro Lutumba
Encyclopedia
Simaro Massiya Lutumba Ndomemueno (born 19 March 1938), popularly known as Simaro, is a soukous
rhythm guitar
ist and songwriter
, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC). He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz
which dominated the Congolese scene from 1960s through the 1980s.
came along. For a while, Youlou Mabiala
and Madilu System
played with the (OK Jazz Band
), before they launched their solo careerers. For many years, Simaro served as the Vice President
of the band and led the group during Franco's long trips to Europe
during the 1980s. In 1974, he composed the band's hit song “Mabele,” sung by Sam Mangwana
, which earned his the nickname “Poet.” In the late 1970s he was jailed at Makala Prison, along with Franco and other musicians, over two songs deemed obscene by the authorities.
According to pundits, Lutumba is considered as one the greatest poet, singer and philosopher that Congo music has ever produced.
Lutumba's songs, written and sung in Lingala, demonstrate a depth of thinking that only those who dabble with poetry, philosophy and psychoanalysis can be able to write. Lutumba
probes the immaterial world of dreams and confronts it with the daily complexities of life; he raised the metaphysical questions of birth and death while warranting free spirited lifestyle; he exposes the meanders of love, its use and abuse by certain women as a ruse to have grip on men.
Yet, in spite of all these surreal imageries and archetypical depictions, Simaro Lutumba remains a down-to-earth man with a very modest formal education background. Well, but for souls nobly born valor doesn’t await the passing of years.
Simaro is credited with composing many songs for the band, including:
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...
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 and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, 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 scene from 1960s through the 1980s.
Music career with OKJazz
According to Simaro, he joined Luambo Makiadi in 1961. Later Josky Kiambukuta joined them, and later still Ndombe OpetumNdombe Opetum
Ndombe Opetum , popularly known as Pepe, is a soukous recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
came along. For a while, 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 Madilu System
Madilu System
Jean de Dieu Makiese , popularly known as Madilu System, was a soukous singer and songwriter, born in Léopoldville, Belgian Congo - what is today known as Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo...
played with the (OK Jazz Band
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:...
), before they launched their solo careerers. For many years, Simaro served as the Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the band and led the group during Franco's long trips to 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...
during the 1980s. In 1974, he composed the band's hit song “Mabele,” sung by Sam Mangwana
Sam 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....
, which earned his the nickname “Poet.” In the late 1970s he was jailed at Makala Prison, along with Franco and other musicians, over two songs deemed obscene by the authorities.
According to pundits, Lutumba is considered as one the greatest poet, singer and philosopher that Congo music has ever produced.
Lutumba's songs, written and sung in Lingala, demonstrate a depth of thinking that only those who dabble with poetry, philosophy and psychoanalysis can be able to write. Lutumba
Lutumba
Lutumba is a village in Beitbridge District in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe....
probes the immaterial world of dreams and confronts it with the daily complexities of life; he raised the metaphysical questions of birth and death while warranting free spirited lifestyle; he exposes the meanders of love, its use and abuse by certain women as a ruse to have grip on men.
Yet, in spite of all these surreal imageries and archetypical depictions, Simaro Lutumba remains a down-to-earth man with a very modest formal education background. Well, but for souls nobly born valor doesn’t await the passing of years.
Simaro is credited with composing many songs for the band, including:
- Mabele - Sung by 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....
- Eau Benite - Sung by Madilu SystemMadilu SystemJean de Dieu Makiese , popularly known as Madilu System, was a soukous singer and songwriter, born in Léopoldville, Belgian Congo - what is today known as Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo...
- Maya - Sung by Carlyto Lassa
- Testament ya Bowule - Sung by Malage de Lugendo
- Vaccination - Sung by Kiesse Diambu
- Ebale ya Zaire - Sung by 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....
- Faute Ya Commercant - Sung by 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....
- Cedou - Sung by 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....
, Michel Boyibanda & Franco
Music career post OKJazz
Following the death of Franco in 1989, Simaro met with the faily of the late band leader and agreed to split revenue 70% to 30% with the family. Simarro would take care of the musicians and the family would take care of the lawyers, record labels and other technical stakeholders. However, in 1993, OKJazz split up over disagreements in the way funds were being shared. In January 1994, Simaro formed Bana OK, with the majority of the musicians from OKJazz, about thirty (30) of them.External links
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