Customer Reviews

Omona Wapi

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first cd of a two-cd landmark joint session by these twin giants of Congo music. It is very fine but the full two cd set with the addition of the better value (50 minutes) Franco-centric cd is now available in the USA for very little more than this single album price - check it out [Lisanga Ya Baganga - Syllart 823421/SC 890]

Some of the most rhythmically beautiful music I've ever heard. Franco's ringing guitar and sweet, high vocals intertwine with Tabu Ley's rich tenor to make music that is rapturously gorgeous. "Ngungi" and "Kabassele In Memoriam" are standouts. Whether you're a fan of African music or not, this music transcends genre.

a tabu ley- franco collaboration was a dream for many fans of congolese music. their joint session in 1983 resulted in two wonderful cds. while i prefer the other cd- available only as a french import. this is an important part of any african music fans collection. franco and tabu ley are indeed the giants of african music. the two were at the hieght of their powers in 1983. this is not a super group of has beens. the band is primarly Rochereau's but franco provides serious guitar playing giving the cd a more rootsy quality than you expect to find on post 1970 Rochereau recording. i have 30+ lps and 17cds by Franco he was the great master. if you like african music and haven't gotten into these two greats snap up this cd

It's about my vue regarding the main title of this CD; I was still in France a while ago, reading another review we kept talking about the said title: OMONA WAPI It's almost disgusting to see that the artist who wrote this song is being ignored by the company that's released this album: MODERO MEKANISI who is also a well known Congolese (Zairean)musician, a successfull songwritter and a leading artist; I'd personally purchased the vinyl original version of this CD, produced by SONODISC (GENIDIA) in France, the songwritter name is was MODERO on that album; now how does it come that this author's name is replaced by TABU LEY ROCHEREAU & FRANCO LWAMBO in the USA? and who's being paid for this. We are going to ask some the african artists we know if they could let the real OMONA WAPI's song- writter protect his copyrights here and ask this company handle african artist's business properly?

FIDOS BUNNY

I'd say Rochereau and Franco had a good thing going back then. I still prefer either one on his own, but still I'd go for this cd, no question about it. This album gets a high rating as it deserves.