Franklin Boukaka was an amazing composer, poet, and activist. I wonder what he might have become if he wasn't executed in 1972, after a failed coup in Congo Brazzaville. His short career (he was 32 when he died) spanned work with Negro Band (which he helped start), then African Jazz/Vox Africa, and Cercul Jazz. More on Boukaka can be found at WorldService. This album from 1970, arranged and directed by Manu Dibango, is a classic.
Franklin also recorded with Keletigui et ses Tambourinis (and toured with them in Guinee). One of those tracks is on the Stern's Keletigui compilation, thanks to the restoration work by Graeme Counsel.
Le Bucheron
Nakoki
Likambo Oyo
Bomoto
Ata Ozali
Pont Sur Le Congo
Luzolo
Mwanga
Dia Bikola
Bibi
9 comments:
THANKS for this. Both sides of his second Keletigui 45 are on a Tambourinis singles comp I posted @ Lucky Psychic Hut. Still haven't found the first one. Thanks again...
Thank you very much for the first of sonafric, a missing pearl in the history of congolese music, I was waiting for a long time.
The simply majestic opening track makes the heart swell. Boukaka's sweet, plaintive voice is compelling while being unassuming. A neat trick. Thank you very much for filling a hole here, too.
I just realized that my copy of Boukaka's "à Paris" recording is virtually identical to what you have posted
On the back of the LP presented here, the second track on Side A is clearly spelled "Nakoki." On the "à Paris" version of the record, the same song title is spelled "Nakoko." The record posted here (the first-ever from Sonodisc, yes?) carries an SAF number 50001. My "à Paris" copy has what I can only assume is a later SAF number of 50048. (This version of the recording also contains two additional tracks, "Etumba," and "Les Immortels.")
Any idea which spelling is correct?
Thanks again for your wonderful efforts.
It should be 'Nakoki'; it means
"I Can" (from the Lingala verb -koka).
Thanks for enjoying Boukaka's work. I have to admit: I don't always check the SAF number so didn't realize it may be Sonafric/Sonodisc's first. I'll look up the connection between the two.
Really takes me back to when my parents introduced us to the simple yet profound and revolutionary work of Boukaka in the late 60s in London. I couldn't have been more than 7yrs old and this is the first time I am listening to the whole album in more than 40 years. I can remember every tune and most of the words....I am not even Congolese! These songs have been etched in my mind forever.
Any chance of making these links active again? Just read about this lp in Gary Stewart's book and then stumbled upon your post but it doesn't seem to be active anymore. Thanks for considering the request.
links are not active hope you can fix them :) thanx for sharing all these music with us!
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