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Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba
Genres: International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (7) - Disc #1

The artist formerly known as Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba's first Western album, released in 1988, is in many ways also Papa Wemba's last typically Zairean album. Produced by Martin Meisonnier, who worked commercial magic ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Papa Wemba
Title: Papa Wemba
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Stern's
Release Date: 3/8/1994
Genres: International Music, Pop
Style: Africa
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 740042102620, 5017742102621, 740042102644

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The artist formerly known as Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba's first Western album, released in 1988, is in many ways also Papa Wemba's last typically Zairean album. Produced by Martin Meisonnier, who worked commercial magic on King Sunny Ade, it's a rich and resonant showcase for Wemba's velvet-sandpaper voice. The album's centerpiece, after several shorter hors d'oeuvres, is "Bokulaka," whose slow introduction (nearly always dropped by modern soukous groups) gives Wemba a chance to stretch out in a blues mode before the band explodes into a fiery "seben" dance vamp nudged into hyperdrive by guitar hero Rigo Star. The disc's other highlight is "Esclave," on which Papa Wemba digs deeply into soukous's rumba roots and plays an exciting game of musical tag with keyboardist Philippe Marais. --Richard Gehr

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CD Reviews

My Favorite Wemba CD, One of the Great Congolese Albums
Christopher Spadone | new Orleans, LA USA | 02/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Buy this CD. I purchased this lp in 1988 and it is still my favorite recording by the great Papa Wemba. In the late 60s and early 70s, Wemba helped revolutionize Congolese music by founding Zaiko Langa Langa. This is the group that dropped the horns, placed the guitar front and center, while speeding up the music. At some point Wemba left the group to become an African superstar. While recorded in Europe, this album retains the energy and vigor of his album aimed at the African market, while containing stunning production values and incrediable performances. The songs are varied and each one contains more creative ideas than many musicians have in their whole life. Wemba sings a beautiful ballad, a mutwache, and straight ahead soukous. Wemba has a voice like a bird. After 12 years, this album still resonates in my head. This record is great for dancing, driving, and simpley listening to."