#kwenda

#DW: Raila Odinga awashauri wafuasi wake wasusie kwenda kazini | Matukio ya Afrika | DW

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Taarifa kutoka ofisi ya rais nchini Kenya imesema vurugu zilizotokea katika baadhi ya maeneo nchini humo zilivuka mipaka na zilikuwa kinyume cha sheria. Msemaji wa rais Manoah Esipisu amesema maandamano ya amani ni haki ya raia na kwamba polisi watatoa ulinzi kwa wananchi wakati wote. Esipisu amesema polisi hawatawavumilia watu wenye nia ya kuvuruga amani.

Kwa mara ya kwanza Odinga…

Over the past few ears, Angolan music has garnered a great deal of attention due in no small part to the wonderfully thorough compilations released by Analog Africa and Luka Bop, among others.  The abundance of rhythms - ranging from classic semba and rebita to Kizomba and Zouk - have demonstrated the versatility of Angolan music as well as the syncretic relationship Angolans have had with the rest of the portuguese-speaking world. Adding to the mixture is the wide-reaching influence of cuban music - much like in the other popular musical movements of The Congo, Ghana & Sengal.  As one writer put it, Angolan music "is not only another link between Africa and Europe, but a connector in the crescent of sounds from the west, center and south of Afro-pop."

Now, for us  there is no better Angolan artist to demonstrate this beautiful melange of influences and sentiments than Mr. Bonga Kwenda. Once an aspiring athlete, Bonga went on to the become the quintessential voice of the Angolan struggle for independence in the 1970s.  His 1972 masterpiece, "Mona Mona Ki Ngi Xiça,” speaks of a child he has left behind and the evil that prey upon her.  The subliminal message of the song was deemed too subversive for Angolan audiences and generated an arrest warrant for Bonga.

Eventually, he would go into exile, relocate several times around Europe before settling in Portugal, but his message persisted and, in 1975, Angola would join the ranks of other free african nations. Sadly, the achievement was short lived as the country was torn apart by a 27 year-long civil war.

Bonga's lament proved to be more ever-lasting than anyone could've imagined. 

The recording featured today - 1976's Noir, Ton Pays! (Black, Our Country) -  is an early french pressing of Bonga's first solo album - Angola '72. These songs are some of my absolute favorites by Bonga, and should inspire any listener to dig deeper into Angola's rich musical history. Along with the aforementioned "Mona Mona Ki Ngi Xiça,” the album also features "Uengi dia Ngola" and a atmospheric instrumental, "Mu nhango." Highly recommended.