30/11/2025
𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗨 𝗟𝗘𝗬 & 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟
1940: Thursday Nov, 13. Pascal Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu is born in Bagata, Congo-Kinshasa.
1957: Tabu Ley Rochereau join Rock-A-Mambo of Esengo Label.
1958: Tabu Ley join Ritmo Band.
1959: Tabu Ley records his first compositions Mwana Mawa (his first song), Catalina Cha Cha and Marie José at “Jazz Africain” NOT African Jazz. Jazz Africain was formed in 1958 by Edo Clary Lutula.
1959: Tabu Ley Join African Jazz of Joseph Kabaselle (Grand Kallé), the archetype of the modern Congolese rumba band. “Kelya” is his first song alongside Grand Kallé at African Jazz.
1963: All musicians except Tshiluba Wa Baloji aka Tino Baroza deserts Grand Kallé to form African Fiesta, under Vita Label. Maracas player Roger Izeidi emerged as the leader of this new group alongside guitarist Docteur Nico and Tabu Ley. Promising young singer Sam Mangwana joins but leaves after few months.
1965: Tabu Ley recruits Henriette "Miss Bora" Borauzima. Kwamy and Mujos join African Fiesta from O.K Jazz.
1966: African Fiesta split into two factions: One led by Dr. Nico and his elder brother Dechaud Mwamba, known as African Fiesta Sukisa under Sukisa label; the other in the hands of Tabu Ley and Rodger Izeidi, became known as African Fiesta 66 and the following year as African Fiesta National under Flash label.
Rodger Izeidi was the Manager of African Fiesta National and handled the band's business affairs, he’s the one who recruited solo Guitarist Jean Paul "Guvano" Vangu from Orchestra Blue Diamond, a band which he also managed. Ley wrote most of the music and on the strength of his exceptional voice he emerged as the headliner of the band only to become the leader later.
Future African Fiesta National musicians like Denis Kasia aka Lokassa Ya Mbongo and Jean “Trompette” Nzenze also came from Orchestra Blue Diamond.
1966: Ley recruits Rene Kare Kasanda Kashama, and convinces Sam Mangwana to join him. This period produced many memorable songs including the hit "Mokolo Nakokufa” and Savon Omo. Papa Wendo Kolosoy also join the band.
1967: Michelino Mavatiku Visi Join from African Fiesta Sukisa, Malao Hennecy also Join. Sam Mangwana leaves to Vox Africa Orchestra of Jeannot Bombenga.
1967: African Fiesta National represents Congo at the Negro Arts Festival in Dakar, Senegal and also at the Universal Exhibition Exposition in Montreal, Canada. (Mangwana was cajoled from Vox Africa and included in the Canada trip, after the trip he remained in band).
1967 Dec: The band is suspended for three-months for showing up late for the 1967 New Year's Eve party thrown by President Joseph Mobutu. Inactivity and nonpayment of salaries triggered a walkout.
1968: Guvano, Michelino, Mangwana, Bokasa, Jean Nzenze leave to create Festival des Maquisards. The Band recovered with new recruits, including Attel Bumba, Lokassa Ya Mbongo and singers Ndombe Opetun and Diana. This period produced great hits including Christine, Longo, Mokitani Ya Wendo, Nakoki Kotika Ya Te! Papa, Toyota, etc.
1969: Tabu Ley takes full control of African Fiesta National after the exit of Rodger Izeidi. Flash Label is renamed ISA (International Service Artistique).
1970: African Fiesta National performs at the prestigious Olympia Concert Hall of Bruno Coquatrix in Paris from 12th to 29th December, the highest profile appearance for a Congolese band outside of Africa. The feat is also the first for an African band. Michelino is back right in time for the Concert.
The Olympia concert line up: Vocals; Tabu Ley, P. Ndombe, Kare Kasanda, and Malao Hennecy. Guitars: Attel, Michelino, Faugus Izeidi, Denis Lokassa, Mwena Joseph, Philo Kola, Franc Mantwila, Kongolia. Brass: Empompo Deyesse, Sacky Abdul (Nigerian), Alphonse Vieux Biolo and W***y Mbembe. Percussions: Seskain Molenga and Bakoyene. Dancers: Marie Therese Yoka, Mariatou M’powa, Angelique Yeni, Annie Mbuli, Pascal, Dilins and Saidi. Annie Mbuli later became Franco Luambo’s second wife.
1970: W***y Mbembe becomes the Chef d’Orchestre.
1971: Faugus Izeidi exits and forms his own band Fiesta Populaire. Faugus recruits young singer Madilu, Yossa Toluki and others into his band.
1971: Ley renames the band Afrisa International after the Olympia show. Back in Kinshasa Afrisa pioneered the concept of "le show" by staging elaborate, Olympia-like concerts in large halls while leaving the night clubs to others. The band also innovated a new rumba sub-genre “Soum Djoum”.
1971: Mekanisi Modero Join. W***y Mbembe dies in a road accident.
1972: Pierre Attel, Ndombe Opetun, Michelino, Jean Trompette, Empompo Loway, leaves the band to form Afrizam (African Zaire Music), Michelino comes back and becomes the soloist. Mulamba Mujos join.
1973: Empompo returns, Rose Muaba Join. Diana leaves for Ntesa’s Grand Maquisards.
1973: Roll Call; Tumba - Armando Ama, Drums - Seskain Molenga, Bass - Philo Kola (Chef d’Orchestre), Rhythm Lokassa, Solo-Michelino, Tenor Sax-Empopo Loway, Alto Sax - Mekanisi Modero, Trumpet - Vieux Biolo, Trumpet - Nzenze, Vocals - Malao Hennecy, Kare Kasanda and Tabu Ley.
1974: Bopol Mansiamina, Bovic Ye Bondo and Yondo Sisters (Yondo Nyota and Yondo Kusala) Join. Michelino becomes the Chef d’Orchestre.
1974: Afrisa performs at the “Zaire 74”, the music festival organized in Zaire in 1974, before the Ali-Foreman fight.
1975: Michelino leaves Afrisa for TPOK Jazz, Dizzy Madjeku becomes the soloist. Sam Mangwana rejoin.
1976: Dino Vangu Join the band as a substitute soloist.
1977: Tabu Ley Rochereau represents Zaire at FESTAC (World Festival of Negro-African Arts), in Lagos, Nigeria under ONAZA (National Orchestra of Zaire), a band comprising of Afrisa members, Zaïko members: (Manuaku, Nyoka Longo, Mbuta Mashakado, and Likinga Redo) and Abeti Masikini. After this concert, Dizzy, Lokassa, Ringo Moya and Bopol move to West Africa for a project “African All Stars” of Sam Mangwana.
1977: Madilu Join briefly. Muaka Nzunzi alias “Mimi Ley” join.
1978: Kiesse Diambu, Dave Makondele, Diasi Kadi, and Michel Sax aka Kasongo Yuma Join. Kamba Emmanuel aka Shaba Kahamba also Join after a brief stint at TPOK Jazz. Dino Vangu becomes the soloist.
1978 Dec, 22. Afrisa win the best Orchestra for the year 1978. On the best song category “Ponce Pilate” by Tabu Ley & Afrisa was ranked 4th and “Kiyedi” by Dino Vangu & Afrisa ranked 5th. Dino Vangu is crowned the soloist of the Year.
1979: Papa Wemba join briefly, composing few songs including “Lèvres Roses”. Milanda Barami and Maika Munan also join.
1980: Dr. Nico, Kwamy Munsi, Jeannot Bombenga, Damoiseau Kambite, Kabert Kabasele join. Empompo is back again. Dino Vangu becomes the chef d’Orchestre.
1980: Songbird Mbilia Bel, whose voice and beauty brought a new dimension in Afrisa for the new decade Join. Same year in December Tabu Ley performs in Kenya promoting his newly released Album “Maze”. The Album has four songs, The Blockbuster “Maze”, Maika, Mbanda Monument and Mr. Malonga.
1982 October; Damoiseau Kambite passes on in Kinshasa.
1982 November; yours truly the African Fiesta National/Afrisa Numéro Un and Rumba Deep state is born.
1982: “Zuwa Te” by Kiesse Diambu and Afrisa is voted song of the year and wins a Golden record. Pompon Kuleta join.
1983: The concept of “Lisanga Ya Banganga” is created by Lusangi Fataki aka Tchika-Tchika, a business man, promoter and producer based in Brussels. He took the advantage of the presence of the two bigwigs in Europe, and they accepted the proposal. Michelino was invited from other projects in East Africa to blend the synthesis between O.K Jazz and Fiesta styles. (Best suited for having played in both music schools).
1984: Brazos Panga Kasongo Join from Nguashi’s Festival du Zaire. Kiesse Diambu leaves to Brazzaville for a solo project.
1985: Lambert Beresi aka Bers join becoming the soloist for a short while. Huit Kilo, Dieudonné Munoko Gisalu aka Dodo Munoko and Baniel Bosambo join. Diasi Kadi leaves to join Mimi Ley’s Band Afro International.
1986: Dino Vangu leaves the band. Huit Kilo becomes the Soloist.
1987: Mbilia quit the band at the end of 1987, and Faya Tess takes charge in her place. Pompon also leaves.
1988: Caien Madoka and Wawali Bonane Join from J***y Bokelo’s Mbonda Africa. Efomi Mondjoy aka Beyou Ciel is recruited into the band.
1989: Grand Maitre Franco dies, Ley sneaks into Kinshasa from exile to mourn Franco albeit after the burial, there after he composes the song “Franco Mi Amor” to mourn his long term music rival.
1990: Ndombe Opetun rejoin for a short while.
1994: Afrisa shifts base to the United States.
1996: Dino Vangu rejoin.
2000: Rochereau officially announced his decision in a press conference to finally retire from music.
2013: Tabu ley Rochereau dies on 30th Nov at Saint Luc's hospital in Brussels at age 73.
Signed: 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐎𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐌
