Orchestre Impala Vol. 8

We've already had five vols. of Orchestre Impala de Kigali(1,2,3,6,7). This is my last one, Vol. 8 from 1986.

I don't know if there were vols. 4 and 5 and if there were cassettes after this. In the shops I've been consulting I couldn't find more (until 1989). So I think that they stopped recording for commercial release.

So please enjoy their last (?) release.

It seems that I will not have enough time to contribute to this blog on a regular basis for the next several months. Sorry.

African Hits Vol. V

Today we come with Vol. 5 of the African Hits tape series issued on the Rwandan market in the mid 1980s. This one has more music from Cameroun and some Zouk. So please enjoy!

Orchestre Impala - Vol. 7

It's time to share something before we rest for some holidays.

Coming back to Rwanda and Rwanda's favorite orchestra of the 1980s. This is Volume 7.
Enjoy via http://www.mediafire.com/?6tns1fljtlsciml!

Little problem with Blogger: I actually can't insert a link! So please copy and paste. Now it works!

Ingeli - Mgr Bigirumwami

I started with this blog one year ago! Hurray! I started with a tape from Rwanda. These tapes were my main reason to do the blog as I couldn't see somebody with that music - so I will share today another group from Rwanda, Orchestre Ingeli; it's from 1986.

One member of Ingeli remained active, playing music and releasing CDs: Jean-Paul Samputu (more here at Frank Bessem's pageand at Wikipedia) who's family was victim of the genozide.

Enjoy!



Marketplace of Kanama with Nyungwe mountains

Ngabonziza Augustin & Les Citadins - Uburere Bwiza

After some weeks at the end of our school year I have to come back and to wish you a good summertime.

This one is a vol 2; for the related and probably existing vol 1 I was not able to identify a source. But there may be a newer release from 2003 with Augustin's participation (look here).

This tape here is with one hour of good music. And I wish you pleasant listening!

Orchestre Impala de Kigali -Vol. 6

This is Vol. 6 from Orchestre Impala; we already had Vols 1, 3 and a compilation tape. Again 60 minutes, as in Rwanda they used mostly C60 tapes for duplication.

There are nine tracks on the tape, 8 are indicated on the cover. Anyway: Enjoy this one too!

I tried to contact some people who have written on Orchestre Impala in Kinyarwanda (here and here) but haven't got any reaction until now.



My little friend on Ruzizi river near Lake Tanganiyka

Orchestre Impala - III

This is cassette no. 3 by Orchestre Impala; it should have been released during the early 1980s; but the year is not indicated here. It's a typical selection for the Impalas. On the cover we see the eight musicians, none of them I know by name. Is there someone out there who can help, tell us more about them, if they are still among us?

Meanwhile, enjoy their music! Thank you Nauma (here) and Bolingo 69 (here) for sharing more music from Rwanda with us!

Orchestre Abamararungu - Inanga Y'Amahoro

It's time to come back to Rwanda. A new group apeared in 1987 with a tape calle "Peace zither", inanga is the instrument you see on the cover; maybe they were already too late. Peace vanished during the following years from this wonderful country.
The music is beautiful. Production was made by Jean Uwimana.

Enjoy!

Fellows - Brigitte 85

Hi, friends, I wish you a happy, peaceful new year 2011! For your party I've choosen a cassette from 1985 Rwanda, from a time, when it was possible to have a good time even in Rwanda.

For me this tape was the most danceable, the most Kinshasa oriented output in Rwanda at all. Even the name of the band indicated that they did not want to be a local band. "Brigitte" and "Bonne année" are real smash hits.

Enjoy!

At the years end we should make a resumé:
I've posted 25 entries (enough?).
What you liked most was:
::Visits::
5. OK Jazz - Loboko
4. Orch. Lipua Lipua - Editions Vévé
3. Omar Pene - Navetanes
2. Zao - Ancien Combattant
1. Orchestre Impala - Vol. 1
::DLs::
5. Sam Mangwana - Affaire Disco
4. Orchestre Impala - Vol. 1
3. Bantous Jazz - Les Merveilles du Passé
2. Zao - Ancien Combattant
1. Orchestre Lipua Lipua



Some fireworks near Goma. Nyamulagira in August 1986.

Orchestre Impala - Vol. 1

Here is the first Impala tape which was released in Rwanda by Uwimana Jean with 10 tracks and 60 minutes. I can't say which year it was recorded and released.
I hope you enjoy!


Potters on a market in Rwanda, 1985

Manu Matabaro - Umwana w’umunyarwanda

Rwandan singer/songwriterManu Matbaro aka E. Sekimonyo with a little cassette here from the 1980s, accompanied by Inono Stars.
Tracks: Face A: 1. Umwana w’umuyarwanda / 2. Ururabo / 3. Icyo nkundira mu kinyaga // Face B: Umwana utagira iyo ajya / 2. Amatage / 3. Imbabazi bambe. Enjoy!


Girls in Rwanda, 1979

Orchestre Impala - Présentation

All those phantastic blogs on good and African music were motivation enough to start another one in the same vain. Lost or nearly lost sounds from different places I've come across over the years.

I'd like to start with some music from 1980s Rwanda (with more to follow), where I've been working in those times. This wonderful country with it's tragic history was never a musical powerhouse. There was no record industry, only a few tapes were produced. The best known orchestra in those times was Orchestre Impala (de Kigali) who released ca. 10 tapes; a late compilation from ca. 1988 I would like to share today.

Rwanda in those days was a very poor country. Rwanda was not jet controlling the eastern parts of Congo, then Zaire, was not exporting valuable raw materials but some coffee and tea. Electricity was available only in the towns; the biggest, the capital Kigali was not more than big village, no city at all.

The music is mostly slow, controlled, nothing goes wild ... And there is a kinyarwanda version of the Bellamy Brothers' song 'Let Your Love Flow" - funny.

Enjoy!