Tabu Ley Rochereau (Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, 13 November 1937 or 1940… Read Full Bio ↴Tabu Ley Rochereau (Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, 13 November 1937 or 1940 – 30 November 2013) was a leading African rumba singer-songwriter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was the leader of Orchestre Afrisa International, as well as one of Africa's most influential vocalists and prolific songwriters. Along with guitarist Docteur Nico Kasanda, Tabu Ley pioneered soukous (African rumba) and internationalised his music by fusing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American rumba.
During his career, Tabu Ley composed up to 3,000 songs and produced 250 albums.
Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu was born in Bagata, in the then Belgian Congo. His musical career took off in 1956 when he sung with Joseph "Le Grand Kallé" Kabasele, and his band L'African Jazz. After finishing high school he joined the band as a full-time musician. Tabu Ley sang in the pan-African hit Indépendance Cha Cha which was composed by Grand Kallé for Congolese independence from Belgium in 1960, propelling Tabu Ley to instant fame. He remained with African Jazz until 1963 when he and Dr Nico Kasanda formed their own group, African Fiesta.[6] Two years later, Tabu Ley and Dr. Nico split and Tabu Ley formed African Fiesta National, also known as African Fiesta Flash. The group became one of the most successful bands in African history, recording African classics like Afrika Mokili Mobimba, and surpassing record sales of one million copies by 1970. Papa Wemba and Sam Mangwana were among the many influential musicians that were part of the group. He adopted the stage name "Rochereau" after the French General Pierre Denfert-Rochereau, whose name he liked and whom he had studied in school.
In 1970, Tabu Ley formed Orchestre Afrisa International, Afrisa being a combination of Africa and Éditions Isa, his record label. Along with Franco Luambo's TPOK Jazz, Afrisa was now one of Africa's greatest bands. They recorded hits such as "Sorozo", "Kaful Mayay", "Aon Aon", and "Mose Konzo". They performed also at the Zaire 74 and therefore are in the documentary film Soul Power.
In the mid 1980s Tabu Ley discovered a young talented singer and dancer, M'bilia Bel, who helped popularise his band further. M'bilia Bel became the first female soukous singer to gain acclaim throughout Africa. Tabu Ley and M'bilia Bel later married and had one child together. In 1988 Tabu Ley introduced another female vocalist known as Faya Tess, and M'bilia Bel left and continued to be successful on her own. After M'bilia Bel's departure, Afrisa's influence along with that of their rivals TPOK Jazz continued to wane as fans gravitated toward the faster version of soukous.
After the establishment of Mobutu Sese Seko regime in the Congo, he adopted the name "Tabu Ley" as part of Mobutu's "Zairization" of the country, but later went into exile in France in 1988.
In 1985, the Government of Kenya banned all foreign music from the National Radio service. After Tabu Ley composed the song "Twende Nairobi" ("Let's go to Nairobi"), sung by M'bilia Bel, in praise of Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi, the ban was promptly lifted. In the early 1990s he briefly settled in Southern California. He began to tailor his music towards an International audience by including more English lyrics and by increasing more international dance styles such as Samba. He found success with the release of albums such as Muzina, Exil Ley, Africa worldwide and Babeti soukous. The Mobutu regime banned his 1990 album "Trop, C'est Trop" as subversive. In 1996, Tabu Ley participated in the album Gombo Salsa by the salsa music project Africando. The song "Paquita" from that album is a remake of a song that he recorded in the late 1960s with African Fiesta.
When Mobutu was deposed in 1997, Tabu Ley returned to Kinshasa and took up a position as a cabinet minister in the government of new President Laurent Kabila. Following Kabila's death, Tabu Ley then joined the appointed transitional parliament created by Joseph Kabila, until it was dissolved following the establishment of the inclusive transitional institutions. In November 2005 Tabu Ley was appointed Vice-Governor of Kinshasa, a position devolved to his party, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) by the 2002 peace agreements. He also served as provincial minister of culture. In 2008, he was said to have fathered up to 102 children, including the French rapper Youssoupha, with different women.
He has been described as "the Congolese personality who, along with Mobutu, marked Africa's 20th century history." He was dubbed "the African Elvis" by the Los Angeles Times.
Tabu Ley Rochereau died on 30 November 2013, aged 76, at Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels, Belgium where he had been undergoing treatment for a stroke he suffered in 2008. He was buried on 9 December 2013 in the Cimetière Acropolic de la N'sele in Kinshasa, DR Congo, after receiving an official mourning ceremony at the Palais du Peuple.
During his career, Tabu Ley composed up to 3,000 songs and produced 250 albums.
Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu was born in Bagata, in the then Belgian Congo. His musical career took off in 1956 when he sung with Joseph "Le Grand Kallé" Kabasele, and his band L'African Jazz. After finishing high school he joined the band as a full-time musician. Tabu Ley sang in the pan-African hit Indépendance Cha Cha which was composed by Grand Kallé for Congolese independence from Belgium in 1960, propelling Tabu Ley to instant fame. He remained with African Jazz until 1963 when he and Dr Nico Kasanda formed their own group, African Fiesta.[6] Two years later, Tabu Ley and Dr. Nico split and Tabu Ley formed African Fiesta National, also known as African Fiesta Flash. The group became one of the most successful bands in African history, recording African classics like Afrika Mokili Mobimba, and surpassing record sales of one million copies by 1970. Papa Wemba and Sam Mangwana were among the many influential musicians that were part of the group. He adopted the stage name "Rochereau" after the French General Pierre Denfert-Rochereau, whose name he liked and whom he had studied in school.
In 1970, Tabu Ley formed Orchestre Afrisa International, Afrisa being a combination of Africa and Éditions Isa, his record label. Along with Franco Luambo's TPOK Jazz, Afrisa was now one of Africa's greatest bands. They recorded hits such as "Sorozo", "Kaful Mayay", "Aon Aon", and "Mose Konzo". They performed also at the Zaire 74 and therefore are in the documentary film Soul Power.
In the mid 1980s Tabu Ley discovered a young talented singer and dancer, M'bilia Bel, who helped popularise his band further. M'bilia Bel became the first female soukous singer to gain acclaim throughout Africa. Tabu Ley and M'bilia Bel later married and had one child together. In 1988 Tabu Ley introduced another female vocalist known as Faya Tess, and M'bilia Bel left and continued to be successful on her own. After M'bilia Bel's departure, Afrisa's influence along with that of their rivals TPOK Jazz continued to wane as fans gravitated toward the faster version of soukous.
After the establishment of Mobutu Sese Seko regime in the Congo, he adopted the name "Tabu Ley" as part of Mobutu's "Zairization" of the country, but later went into exile in France in 1988.
In 1985, the Government of Kenya banned all foreign music from the National Radio service. After Tabu Ley composed the song "Twende Nairobi" ("Let's go to Nairobi"), sung by M'bilia Bel, in praise of Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi, the ban was promptly lifted. In the early 1990s he briefly settled in Southern California. He began to tailor his music towards an International audience by including more English lyrics and by increasing more international dance styles such as Samba. He found success with the release of albums such as Muzina, Exil Ley, Africa worldwide and Babeti soukous. The Mobutu regime banned his 1990 album "Trop, C'est Trop" as subversive. In 1996, Tabu Ley participated in the album Gombo Salsa by the salsa music project Africando. The song "Paquita" from that album is a remake of a song that he recorded in the late 1960s with African Fiesta.
When Mobutu was deposed in 1997, Tabu Ley returned to Kinshasa and took up a position as a cabinet minister in the government of new President Laurent Kabila. Following Kabila's death, Tabu Ley then joined the appointed transitional parliament created by Joseph Kabila, until it was dissolved following the establishment of the inclusive transitional institutions. In November 2005 Tabu Ley was appointed Vice-Governor of Kinshasa, a position devolved to his party, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) by the 2002 peace agreements. He also served as provincial minister of culture. In 2008, he was said to have fathered up to 102 children, including the French rapper Youssoupha, with different women.
He has been described as "the Congolese personality who, along with Mobutu, marked Africa's 20th century history." He was dubbed "the African Elvis" by the Los Angeles Times.
Tabu Ley Rochereau died on 30 November 2013, aged 76, at Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels, Belgium where he had been undergoing treatment for a stroke he suffered in 2008. He was buried on 9 December 2013 in the Cimetière Acropolic de la N'sele in Kinshasa, DR Congo, after receiving an official mourning ceremony at the Palais du Peuple.
Karibou Ya Bintou
Tabu Ley Rochereau Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Tabu Ley Rochereau:
Amour Nala Terdampar pengerindu udah ditinggal sulu Nuan bejanji madah …
Bebe Ohhh qu'il est né le bébé Oh qu'il ressemble à son…
Bel Abidjan Bel Abidjan! Toi rendez-vous des grands cœurs Abidjan ville …
Caroline Mama Tanha jeevan mein jab aati hai mushkilein Aur dhundhta dil r…
Cheri Samba Na luka nioso po na kutana na ye eh Ehh Cheri…
Congo Avenir Congo, congo nde mboka, Mboka yango mokengeli koy, mboka yan…
Esw Yo Wapi Tika nga na vanda na nga, tika nga na benda…
Fetiche Ce soir sur la rivière petite lumière reflète la lune à…
I Need You We Used To Laugh We Used To Cry We Used To…
Maze Kitoko Etondi Yo Nzoto Maze, Namona Moto Nini Nameka Na…
Mokolo Nakokufa Mokolo mosusu ngai nakanisi Naloti lokola ngai nakolala Ah m…
Muzina Muzinaaaaaaa Muzina di tata, e di mwana, e di mpeve santu M…
Pitié (Tabu Ley Rochereau): Pitié toi mon amour Pitié toi mon coeu…
Sorozo Ami naluli yo na position nayo Ya tenue ya velours eh Anisi…
Tanga Tanga Mayooooh, mayoooh Moté Mbanago mémana ésalana kikalasse énég…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@justuskiunga1025
Near the end of 1974 Afrisa managed a feat that had lately been rare. With a heart trending song called 'Kaful May,' it wrested the top spot on Zaïre's hit-parade away from Simaro and O.K. Jazz.
Like 'Mongali' before it, 'Kaful Mayay' caught the tenor of authenticity by combining rhythms and a theme from Ley's Yansi ancestors with an arrangement for modern instruments. Peals of electric guitar pierce the silence as Mavatiku introduces the piece. Lokassa chimes in with a palm wine rhythm while a snare drum dances around the beat like a village percussionist shaking a stone-filled gourd. Snatches of saxophone embellish the words as Ley, his voice raised in anguish, sings from Mayay the wife's point of view the disturbing story of an arranged marriage gone bad.
I am going to return to my relatives' village because my husband mistreats me.
I'm running away from the shame.
Look at the wrong that has been done to me,
Me, my mother's child.
At night, I can't sleep, mama, my husband keeps beating me,
Let me leave today,
I hurt too much.
If I remain, I'll die from it.
May I not allow myself to be chained by the so-called joys of marriage.
Ley's words tail off into a closing sebene of male voices chanting 'kaful Mayay' (go ask Mayay, about the tradition of arranged marriage) to the beat of guitars plucked like likembes and the wails of a mournful sax. It is a wonderful synthesis of old and new with a timeless story which, like so many Congo music songs, leaves much to the listener to interpret. It is simply a tale of forced marriage and abuse? A commentary on the ills of modern life? Or perhaps a critique of conditions in Zaïre under the rule of the MPR? 'Kaful Mayay' offers something for everyone, and as 1974 drew to a close, it looked like nearly everyone was buying it. The song stayed at number one on Zaïre's hit parade from November to January until another of Ley's songs, 'Karibou ya Bintou' (welcome to Bintou, in Swahili), rose to replace it.
@reurti5056
O e o e bino kuna na ngambo boyoka likambo
O e o e Vous qui êtes sur l’autre rive¹ écoutez la nouvelle
Tolali te butu ya lelo nzoto ekotoko
Nous n’avons pas fermé l’œil cette nuit, le corps tranpsire
Sango ya koyebisa baboti e e
Il y a un message à donner aux parents
Nakoka te, naloba te
Je ne saurai pas, je ne dirai rien
Somo somo somo o mama
Quelle frayeur, quelle horreur bon Dieu
Boyebisa Bintou kuna na Brazza
Dites à Bintou qui est Brazzaville
Te leki azongisi molimu epayi ya Nzambe
Que sa petite-sœur s’en est allée auprès du Père
Ngo² Marietou Karibu, o ngo Marietou Karibou
Comme c’est triste Mariette Karibou
@reurti5056
Marietou okeyi o wapi? Marietou ngo okeyi wapi?
Très chère Mariette. où es-tu partie ?
Okeyi olaka te pona nini oh iyoyo ngo iya o
Tu es partie sans prévenir
Liwa ya tango oyo ezanga somo
La mort ne fait plus peur de nos jours
Baleki bakomiboma likambo moke
Le jeunes se suicident parfois pour des futilités
Valeur ya nzoto ya moto ekoma pamba
Le corps humain n’a plus aucune valeur
Baboti bakolela mawa o
Les parents pleurent, c’est vraiment triste
@reurti5056
Naleli Nzambe na Arabu Allah
J’implore Allah le Dieu des Arabes
Azongisa nainu yo Marietou
Afin qu’il te ressuscite Mariette
Nakoloba nini mama na ya Bintou
Que vais-je dire à l’aîné Bintou, ma belle
Epayi akoyoka lelo na nzela ya Brazza
Lorsqu’il l’apprendra aujourd’hui sur la route de Brazzaville
Mposa na yo esili te muana ya mama
Je ne suis pas encore lassé de ton affection
Nakokunda yo mobesu pembeni ya Willy Mbembe³
Je vais te mettre en terre toute jeune aux côtés de Willy Mbembe
Ngo Marietou Karibu, o ngo Marietou Karibou
Comme c’est triste Mariette Karibou
@reurti5056
Naleli Nzambe na Arabu Allah
J’implore Allah le Dieu des Arabes
Azongisa nainu yo Marietou
Afin qu’il te ressussite Mariette
Nakoloba nini mama na ya Bintou
Que vais-je dire à l’aîné Bintou
Epayi akoyoka lelo na nzela ya Brazza
Lorsqu’il l’apprendra aujourd’hui sur la route de Brazzaville
Mposa na yo esili te muana ya mama
Je ne suis pas encore lassé de ton affection ma belle
Nakokunda yo mobesu pembeni ya Willy Mbembe³
Je vais te mettre en terre toute jeune aux côtés de Willy Mbembe
Ngo Marietou Karibu, o ngo Marietou Karibou
Comme c’est triste Mariette Karibou
@reurti5056
Otikeli ngai na nzotu mama ya mokuya
Quelle immense détresse que celle que m’as-tu laissée
Nasala nabanza yo Marietou
Je pense à toi lorsque je travaille
Ozalaki soki okobina mpe okoseke
Tu avais l’habitude de sourire lorsque tu dansais
Vedette ya Olympia ngo Marietou
O Mariette vedette de l’Olympia
Mposa na yo esili te muana ya mama
Je ne suis pas encore lassé de ton affection ma sœur de cœur
Pasi oyo nionso omeneli ngai na nzela ya Paris
Tout le mal que je t’ai fait endurer sur la route de Paris
Ezali na motema Marietou
Reste gravé dans mon cœur Mariette
Nakoki kobosana te Karibou
Je n’oublierai jamais Karibou
@reurti5056
Otikeli ngai na nzotu mama ya mokuya
Quelle immense détresse que celle que m’as-tu laissée
Nayemba nabanza yo Marietou
Je pense à toi lorsque je chante
Mposa na yo esili te muana ya mama
Je ne suis pas encore lassé de ton amour ma sœur de cœur
Mpasi oyo nionso omeneli ngai na nzela ya Paris
Tout le mal que je t’ai fait endurer sur la route de Paris
Ezali na motema Marietou
Reste gravé dans mon cœur Mariette
Nakoki kobosana te Karibou
Je n’oublierai jamais Karibou
@palukumuhindodieudonne6210
Ayiiiiiiih,je peux écouter cette chanson mm 1000fois,par jour,vu l'importance et la valeur artistique de cette chanson et le fond du msg ds la chanson... INOUBLIABLE,TABULEY SINAMOI ROCHEREAU,seigneur des seigneurs de la musique DRCONGOLAISE...
@reurti5056
Pour son spectacle à l’Olympia en décembre 1970, Rochereau s’entoure de cinq danseuses qu’il nomme affectueusement Rocherettes. Elles s'appellent Marie-Claire Saïdi, Mariette Mpowa dite Marietou, Angélique Yeni, Marie-Thérèse Yoka et Annie Mbuli). Elles sont accompagnées par les danseurs Pascal Kabemba et Dilins Kinsekwa. Pendant le show, ce petit monde électrise le public présent dans le célèbre music-hall du Boulevard des Capucines dans le 9e arrondissement de Paris.
Cinq ans plus tard, un événement malheureux frappe l’orchestre Afrisa. Mariette Mpowa, l’une des cinq ravissantes Rocherettes, se suicide suite à une déception d’amour. "Ebele bamiboma kaka se po ya bolingo" (Beaucoup se sont donnés la mort à cause de l’amour) dixit Madilu. Cer drame bouleverse Tabu Ley qui rend hommage à sa danseuse. A travers cette mélodie, il s’adresse aussi à Bintou, le grand-frère de la défunte qui se trouve de l’autre côté du fleuve à Brazzaville dont il dévine la douleur.
@daniendjimbi2963
Woow vous êtes une bibliothèque ! Suis fan des anciens que j'écoute chaque week-end
@jeanjacquesnsankye7369
Merci pour l'explication !
@jamesthornton704
Merci encore m'sieur
@laurentmutu6020
Merci de nous éclairer sur les circonstances de la mort de cette danseuse. "Danser et mourir d'amour" aurait pu être aussi le titre de cette merveilleuse ballade. Quelle triste histoire! Aie! Quel cœur de pierre a pu mortellement blessé celui de Karibu ya Bintu? Amour quand tu nous tient! Cette mélodie me berce par sa douceur et la profondeur de son message. Tabu Ley, par sa voix suave et gémissante, exprime la douleur que suscite la disparition de cette belle créature désormais immortalisée par cette magnifique chanson.
@jancristany1966
Merci pour ces précieuses informations qui intéressent ceux qui comme moi, veulent toujours comprendre et avoir le maximum d'informations possibles sur ce que disent les textes, et les remarquables musiciens qui accompagnaient cette grande voix de la musique africaine, ainsi que la vie des hommes et des femmes autour desquels se consolidait ce très grand orchestre.
@tresormasafu8541
😭😭😭😭t'es le plus grand artiste congolais de tout le temps ❤
@gol-singtv1787
Reconfirmation avec force de la Grandiosité de l'artiste Tenu Ley
@komartertuphe5771
Il n'y a qu un noir pour faire entendre la véritable beaute de l éternité. Je suis noir. Gloire à Dieu