Congolese songwriter and artist-musician Nganga Edo died on Sunday June 7 in Brazzaville at the age of 87. He was co-founder of large orchestras on both banks of the Congo river, notably “OK Jazz” in Kinshasa and “Les Bantous de la Capitale” in Brazzaville.
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His real name, Nganga Édouard, this talented musician was born in Léopoldville, now Kinshasa, on October 27, 1933.
A carpenter by training, this virtuoso had a passion for music which prompted him in 1954 to create the group “Négro Jazz” in the company of other artists.
Two years later, when he was in Kinshasa, ex-Léopoldville, to record the first album of Négro Jazz, he met Franco Luambo Makiadi and other musicians there. By mutual agreement, they compose and record songs on behalf of OK Jazz; thus signing the birth of this orchestra which will become the benchmark of Congolese rumba.
The “Bantus of the Capital”
Later, in 1959, he founded the Bantus of the capital with Dieudonné Nino Malapet, Jean-Serge Essous, Saturnin Pandi (Rock-A-Mambo), Célestin Kouka “Célio”, Daniel Loubélo “De la lune”.
Under the direction of Nganga Édo, the Bantus of the Capital made dance of various generations throughout the African continent, and even beyond, thanks to their musical and stylistic diversity, combining rumba, salsa, charanga and cha-cha- cha.
With cult titles like “Makambo mibale”, “Comité Bantou”, “Osala ngaï nini” and “Rosalie Diop”, inspired by the realities of everyday social life, the Bantu of the Capital have been the standard bearer of Congolese music .
This group is far from being a simple orchestra that sang simply to cheer up the music lovers. It is a real musical institution within the Congolese and African cultural heritage.
A “lion” has died
The last survivor of the founders of the capital Bantu, Nganga Édo struggled with all his might to keep alive the flames of his orchestra which he cherished so much and to which he was devoted until the last moment of his life.
Tenor singer, author of famous songs like “Mabé nde kolimwa”, “Zozo kobanga te”, “Aimé wa Bolingo”, he is considered one of the patriarchs of rumba and one of the great monuments of Congolese music. 1950s.
On November 28, 2019, Nganga Edo was appointed to the rank of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Congo. It was on the occasion of the commemoration of the 59th anniversary of the Congo’s independence.
Legend of African music, Nganga Édo was the “artist” until the end of his life. Just two months before his death, he sang to participate in a Covid-19 pandemic awareness message.
With his death, “the curtains fall on one of the most prestigious pages of Congolese music,” comments Colonel Jean Aive Allakoua, in the Congolese press.
From music to education
Nganga Édo remains a big name, not only in music, but also in education. A public college located in the CHU district of Moungali, in Brazzaville, bears his name since October 5, 1967.
It will remind future generations of the passage on earth of a talented musician, an icon, who loved and exercised his art with love, passion and selflessness.
Edouard Nganga joins in death his brothers in arms, including Jean Serge Essous and Nino Malapet. He leaves behind an unforgettable musical work, which will have marked the golden age of Congolese music.
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