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1984-91
Zaïko
Langa Langa
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| When Dindo joined Zaïko in 1984 it was
the start of a new era for the group, a further Zaïko belle époque.
Zaiko Langa Langa had already passed through its initial successful
periods of the early seventies (Wemba, Nyoka, Bimi, Evoloko, Gina wa Gina); the
mid to late seventies incarnation with the addition of Bozi, Mavuela Somo, Mbuta
Mashakado, Likinga Redo and Lengi Lenga; and the early eighties where JP Buse
became a front-line vocalist alongside Nyoka, Bimi and Lengi Lenga.
The new era with Nyoka, Bimi, Lenga, Buse and Dindo Yogo became one of
the highpoints of Zaïko’s career and saw them achieving international
recognition, particularly with the first visit of a Congolese group to Japan in
1986 (Papa Wemba was to follow them shortly after). |
|
President
of Zaïko, Nyoka Longo |
L to R: Bimi Ombale, Dindo, J.P.
Buse, and in front Lengi Lenga |
|
In 1985 Dindo recorded two of his most
famous songs, “Mokili Echanger” (Life has changed) and “Liwa ya Moyibi”
(Death, the Thief), and it was due to these two compositions that his lyrical
talent became firmly acknowledged. In
“Mokili Echanger” he refers back to the great Congolese troubador Adou
Elenga whose classic 1949 song “Ata Ndele” (Sooner or Later) spoke of the
change and upheaval of Congolese society under colonial control.
Dindo’s song tells of the changes he has experienced in his own life:
his musical transition from Orchestre Macchi right through to Zaïko where, he
confirms, he wishes to stay until the end of his musical career.
He also sings of his favourite theme, his family, and the hopes and
aspirations he carries for his off-spring, in particular his oldest son, Lola.
Significantly he was not to end his career with Zaïko but, as he says in
the song, “life changes”.
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| “Liwa ya Moyibi” (Death, the Thief)
appeared in the Eh Ngoss! Eh Ngoss! Eh
Ngoss! LP and continued Dindo’s melancholic, philosophical theme.
The life that had been stolen is that of his wife, the mother of Lola,
and the song re-iterates the need for Lola to be strong and to continue the
struggle to survive with the slogan “Etumba na Nguaka”. |
| During Dindo’s stay with Zaïko
between 1984 and 1991 he recorded the following LPs:
|
| 1.
On Gagne le Proces (PZL 84001)
1984. Dindo sings on all
four songs with Bimi, JP Buse, Lengi Lenga and Nyoka Longo. |
| 2.
En Europe (KK 001)
1984. Features Dindo’s own composition “Na Boyi Ngambo”. |
| 3.
Zaïko Eyi Nkisi (PZL 85002)
1985. Includes “Mokili
Echanger” (Life Has Changed) another of Dindo Yogo’s anthems.
Also includes Max Mongali’s masterpiece “Etape”, “Zizita” from
Bapius and Nyoka Longo’s “S’il vous plait Mbey”.
One of the most important LP releases of the 1980s. |
| 4.
Tala Modele Echanger (PZL
85003) 1985.
Dindo sings lead on Matima’s “Kabobo”. |
| 5.
Eh Ngoss! Eh Ngoss! Eh Ngoss! (PZL
199/8586) 1985. Another important Zaïko
LP that includes Dindo’s composition “Liwa ya Moyibi” (Death the Thief). |
| 6.
N’Goss Club Presente Zaïko Langa
Langa à Bongoville (PZL 8586/201) 1986.
Terrific Bateké folklore album recorded in memory of Madame Marie-Claire
Bongo of Gabon. |
| 7.
Pusa Kuna...Serrez! Serrez! (PZL
8586-202) 1986. Dindo on Nyoka
Longo’s “Paiement Cash” and Meridjo’s “Ben Betito”.
A further assertion of the vocal combination Nyoka, Dindo, Bimi, Lengos,
Buse. |
| 8.
Bongama Kamata Position (ESP
8440) 1987. Strange remix album
with too much intrusive keyboard on “Mupepa”, “Paiement Cash”, “SVP
Mbey”, “Mathi ya Ilo”. |
| 9.
Nippon Banzaï – Au Japon (PZL
86-87/204 / ESP 8444) 1987. To
celebrate their successful and groundbreaking tour of Japan in 1986 Zaïko
recorded this fake “live non-stop” album with a long medley of some of their
best hits. |
| 10. Subissez
les Consequences (ESP 8445) 1987.
Dindo duets with Bimi on “Nibe” and with Buse on “Kevalina” |
| 11. Papa
Omar (N’Goss 8687/208)
1987. Another Bateke album for Gabonese sponsors N’Goss.
With the accompaniment of the Gabonese folk-lore group of Jacques Kaboubi. |
| 12. Jetez
l’éponge (New Deal 66794) 1989. The first album after
the big Zaïko split of 1988 which saw half of the group desert under Bimi and
Ilo Pablo’s leadership to form Zaïko Langa Langa Familia Deï.
Dindo stayed loyal to Nyoka Longo and the Nkolo Mboka lineup released the
magnificent Jetez l’éponge disc. |
| 13. Ici
ça va – Fungola Motema (PZL 82-84) 1990. Dindo’s
last Zaïko album: Good stuff but already his voice was being gradually replaced
by Malage and Adamo. Dindo,
however, sings the lead on Zamuangana’s “Linya” and Aziza’s “Fola”. |
| Dindo Yogo’s picture appears on the
sleeve of the 1986 LP Amour Thy Thy Na (MA 4003) but this was an unofficial Zaïko
release by JP Buse and guitarist Popolipo.
Dindo’s voice is not apparent on the recording. |
| Corresponding with the numerical list
of LPs above are the following cd issues – all released under the name Zaïko
Langa Langa:
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| 1.
L’Authentique (Sonodisc
CD00008487). Four tracks only, as
on the LP. |
| 3.
Hits Inoubliables Vol. 2 (EPP
05). With the addition of the
tracks “Kabobo” and “Viya”. |
| 4.
Hits Inoubliables Vol 1 (EPP 03). Includes
“Anzela Muambu”, “Izebola”, “Daïd’ano” from LP Tala Modele Echanger plus four more tracks. |
| 5.
Hits Inoubliables Vol. 1 (EPP
03). All four tracks from LP Eh Ngoss! Eh Ngoss! Plus three from Tala Modele Echanger.
|
| 6.
Not released on cd, except for an extract of the “sebené” which
appears as part of the medley “Souvenir Masa / Ambience Zaïko” on the cd Meilleurs
Souvenirs de Zaïko Langa Langa (FDB 300190). |
| 7.
Hits Inoubliables Vol. IV (EPP
07) includes all four tracks from Pusa Kuna...Serrez Serrez! (“Paiement
Cash”, “Mena”, “Ben Betito”, “Matshi ya Ilo”) plus four tracks
from the 1981 pre-Dindo Confiance é petit
LP. |
| 9.
Nippon Banzaï – Au Japon (Esperance
CD 8444 or CD 8444/5). Insist on CD
8444/5 because it also includes the entire Subissez
les Consequences LP. |
|
10. Subissez
les Consequences (Sonodisc CD 00008445).
Try to find this release as CD 8444/5 combined with Nippon Banzaï.
|
| 11. Papa
Omar (Grace Music GR 005). One
of Zaïko’s most sought after LPs, the cd issue is also nearly impossible to
find. Includes all three tracks
from the LP plus the early seventies tracks “Ndonge”, “Eboza”, and
“Ando”. |
| 12. Jetez
l’éponge (New Deal 180692). The
original cd issue disappeared very quickly, as did the vinyl.
It was re-issued on cd under the title Zaïko
Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka – Jetez l’éponge / J.B. Mpiana - Courage (Simon
Sipe 29328) with the addition of a terrific JB Mpiana track “Courage”.
Even this cd re-issue is now difficult to find. |
| 13. Ici
ça va – Fungola Motema (PZL 82-84).
Straight cd issue of all six tracks. |
| There is plenty of video footage of
Dindo performing whilst with Zaïko but most of it is not commercially
available, and those clips that are still available are not particularly good
sound quality. I can, however,
recommend Memoires Musicales du Zaïre –
La Grande Periode de Zaïko Langa Langa – Nippon Banzaï Au Japon (FDB
400032) which shows Dindo with Nyoka, Bimi, Lengos and JP Buse and includes
“Mokili Echanger”. Another
interesting video is Les Retrouvailles –
Zaiko Langa Langa – 25 ans l’âge d’or (BMP 940032) which is a
re-union concert where Zaïko are joined by ex-members Dindo, Papa Wemba and
Bozi Boziana on some of their classic early hits.
Not particularly good sound quality but nice to see some of the old team
back together. |
|
Whilst a member of Zaïko Langa Langa
Dindo released a series of solo LPs under his own name, backed by various
members of the group:
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| 1.
Djangi Dindo Yogo – Prix Nobel de
la Paix 85 (SHOUKI 19765) – 1985. Issued
as a cd (two albums on one cd) Dindo Yogo
& King Kester Emeneya – Willo Mondo & La Congolaise (FDB 3000239).
Dindo sings passionately on three of his own titles and one composition
of guitarist Popolipo. The other
tracks on this cd come from a very good Victoria Eleison album, not Dindo. |
| 2.
Après Leurs Tournées de
Tokyo-Paris-Kinshasa (PASA LO 107) – 1987.
Not seen as a cd. There is
more of an obvious Zaïko sound on this release, with brilliant guitar work from
Popolipo, Petit Poisson and Jimmy Yaba. Includes
another of Dindo’s anthems “Y a pas de sots metiers”, a song which
encourages the work ethic. |
| 3.
C’est la Vie (Mayala MA 4009)
– 1989. Available as a cd with
the same reference. More Zaïko
style tunes with the “Madiaba” dance dominating. |
| 4.
Dindo Yogo & Klay Mawungu (Mayala
MAF 004) – 1989. Second album of
compositions from Klay Mawungu available as a cd ref. CDMA 4004. |
| 5.
Dindo Yogo chante Esake Piscos (REM
820) – 1990. Not seen as a cd.
More Zaïko colleagues join Dindo on this superb release of four
compositions by unknown writer Esake Piscos. |
| 6.
La Vie est heureuse... (Mayala
MA4041) – 1990. Available as cd
ref. CD 085772. Zaïko musicians
again, with the addition of the lovely chanteuse Déesse Mukangi, and the return
of old guitar colleague Nseka Huit Kilos. Sheer
genius! |
All
photos and LP/CD sleeves taken from Martin Sinnock's archive
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