{"id":24388,"date":"2015-08-05T22:46:52","date_gmt":"2015-08-06T06:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/?p=24388"},"modified":"2015-08-06T08:36:34","modified_gmt":"2015-08-06T16:36:34","slug":"this-aint-no-conga-line-check-out-congos-mbongwana-star-and-perfectly-produced-malukayi-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/2015-08\/this-aint-no-conga-line-check-out-congos-mbongwana-star-and-perfectly-produced-malukayi-video\/","title":{"rendered":"This Ain’t No Conga Line: Check Out Congo’s Mbongwana Star and Perfectly-Produced “Malukayi” Video"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mbongwana-Star-009\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Mbongwana Star<\/strong><\/a> is a vibrant new band from Kinshasa<\/strong>, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo<\/strong>. \u00a0Mbongwana Star<\/strong> (\u2018Mbongwana\u2019 means \u2018change\u2019) are fusing traditional Congolese musical motifs with electronics and rock, while \u00a0paying homage to life in their Congo towns. \u00a0Or “making magic out garbage\u201d says producer and band member Doctor L<\/strong>. \u00a0In so doing, they are forging a new world-music sound.<\/p>\n

Mbongwana Star<\/strong>\u00a0includes the wheelchaired Coco Ngambali<\/strong> and Theo Nsituvuidi.<\/strong>\u00a0 Comparative elders Ngambali<\/strong> and Nsituvuidi<\/strong>\u00a0drafted younger local musicians to staff their mission.<\/p>\n

To get a feel for Mbongwana Star<\/strong><\/em>, check out the phenomenal official video for track Mulakayi<\/strong><\/em>, as directed by Liam Farrell<\/strong> and filmed by Renaud Barrett<\/strong>. \u00a0The video and song are both driving, high-production pieces featuring mesmerizing music that soothes while it gets under your skin rhythmically (like an MRI). \u00a0Check out the omnipresent rhythmic and percussive movements and the perfectly-effected, fourth world ghost-vocals that seem to emanate from an offshore ham radio.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, check out a couple other vignettes of the band, including the live performance of Ngansh\u00e9,<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0replete with young (and old) dancers. \u00a0Great, enlivening stuff from this Congolese ensemble.<\/p>\n