One of Tanzania's most popular musicians, Remmy Ongala, has died at his home in Dar es Salaam.
Born in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in 1947, he was known as "the Doctor" because he was seen as a defender of the people.
His songs often criticised Tanzania's elite and at the height of his popularity the government tried to expel him on immigration grounds.
But as his international fame grew, he was granted Tanzanian nationality.
His mix of Congolese "soukous" music and Swahili rhythms made him popular across East Africa.
He was also a regular performer at the Womad music festival in the UK until he fell ill 10 years ago and was paralysed.
Despite his ill-health he had toured in Tanzania until recently, mainly performing gospel music.
The BBC's Hassan Mhelela in Dar es Salaam says all radio stations in the country are playing his music and fans are phoning in with tributes.
By the time of his death, even President Jakaya Kikwete was a fan, recently visiting him in hospital.
Ongala often wrote about death - one of his most well-known tracks is Kifo, about the mercilessness of death, saying no matter how rich a person, bribery cannot postpone it.
The singer and guitarist moved to Tanzania in 1977 and joined the Orchestra Super Makassy, until he formed his own group Super Matimila.
He said his music was intended not only to make people dance but also to think.
"I am successful in Tanzania because I write songs about serious topics," his music label, Real World Records, quoted him as saying.
In 1990, he faced opposition to his song Mambo Kwa Socks (Things With Socks) - a reference to condoms - in which he made a plea to young men to practise safe sex.
Radio Tanzania has refused to play it, but live shows and black market tapes have ensured that his message has spread.
Our reporter says there is even a suburb of Dar es Salaam called Sinza Kwa Remmy, named after the musician when he moved to the area in the 1980s.
In 2000, I was driving through the University district of Seattle. I was playing Ongala's Kipenda Roho at quite a loud volume in the car. At about four minutes in, the song starts to shift into an extended breakdown. Some guy standing on the side of the street near the car starts yelling and jumping up and down, just totally jamming out to the track. That was just IT for me. That someone so spontaneously and purely responded to the AMAZING vibe that the song gives off. Damn it WOMAD, please come back to the USA! Us uptight Americans NEED you!!!
ReplyDeleteVery sad news. Ongala was a fabulous talent. Thanks for posting because, otherwise, I doubt I would have heard the news.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations also on the comprehensive coverage of Assange and all the machinations surrounding Wikileaks. It's really quite extraordinary how seized with revenge the powers-that-be are.
Wonder what it is they're really scared might come out!
Hope all is well.
Neil
I have only been to two WOMAD's. The first one in Shepton Mallett back in about 81. (Skidoo/Bunnymen/Don Cherry were the highlights for me)and I also went to WOMADelaide in about 1994 when Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was performing!
ReplyDeleteRegards/
I've been to two also.. ?1993? in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Sheila Chandra, Peter Gabriel, Sinead O'Connor... was a great one. Saw Tony Levin walking around enjoying the sun. Then again in 1999 in Seattle, with Michael Brook/Djivan Gasparyan, Afro-Celt Sound System, Geoffrey Oryema... another great show, though I missed a lot of the acts that time. Was really a sad day when they announced that the WOMAD USA festivals had been cancelled after 9/11, due to the difficulty of obtaining passports for the artists. Sad day indeed...
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