Customer Reviews

V12

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Koffi Olomide is undisputably one of the best and leading musicians from Congo/Zaire, with ballads and a voice like the American Luther Vandros's. The video V12 11 CUTS attest to this. From "Andrada" through "Miss Toutsi" to the last clip, I was overwelmed by the choreography, the movements of the hips (Loketo in Lingala), the syncopated Congolese rumba mixed with Cuban rumba and salsa. He introduces new dance steps as well, including Sankele. Of course, I wasn't sitting down; I was swaying my hips (letf, right,back and front) and really getting down, trying to learn new moves from Koffi Olomide and his Quarier Latin band and dancers. Truly, this is a must-have video collection. Look for ALTIMATUM and LOI video collections as well. I's all Tcha-Tcho--this is how Koffi describes his music, as in "Tcha-Tcho eza mayi" [Tcha-Tcho is water--smooth rythms of life] in the opening song on V12 11 CUTS.

Koffi has become most powerful, I don't know when he will stop, he just keep going and going. His music has awaken each year.

It was 97 degrees out in the streets of Mombasa, Kenya, that day in March of '98. 115 if you count the humidity index factor. Sweat was rolling off my brow, like monsoon rain of a tin roof. I stepped inside the music store--a haven from the heat. As I began looking around, I asked the woman working the counter who was a good African music artist that she recommended. "Koffi Olomide," she replied. "He is da best. Do you know him?" "No," I responded. "He is vedy popular all over Africa. He is vedy good. He just made a new CD. I'll show you." To both of our disappointment, the "new" CD was already sold out. So she referred me to his next most recent CD, "V12." I listened to a couple songs she sampled for me on the store's sound system. After just a few syncopated notes, I was convinced she was right and bought the CD. I walked into the store a Koffi "virgin." I walked back out and forgot about the heat-- I was hooked from that point on. Being a foreigner, I still don't understand what's being said in the words, but Koffi's music works its magic in my mind. It carries me back to a mix of gold savanna, silhouetted acacias, animal prides, brilliant patterns, swaying bodies, working hands, dancing feet, and broad, hopeful smiles. What a celebration of rhythm, chorus, beat and soul-- traditional african harmonies blended with a modern pulse. I feel privelaged to join the multicountry praise for this artist -- even if this wasn't his best work at the time. I'm now back in the States searching Amazon.com for the rest of his collection!

Yo back in 95 when the dj used play these hot jams at my uncle's Kenyan club/resturant in Maryland,Mad people got on dancefloor even all my realatives that were there even my mom and dad. Even my dad has this cd in his Koffi Olomide collection. Also there is a cassett with video clips of every song from the album too, which dad also has.

I enjoyed this video because of its quality and organizatio

during an easter 1996 visit to Mombasa i stayed in a small hotel, the dj would play Koffi Olomide as a lead in to the nights entertainment... this tape (as i purchased) brings back the most excellent memories of my time spent with friends. the beats and rythmns capture the vibrant nature of the place that is Kenya and the upbeat personalities of many Kenyan residents. Parking ya baba has a spirit all its own.. recomended to pick you up when feeling low, buy this to listen to while driving, summer, winter or fall...