Edouard Masengo
Encyclopedia
Edouard Masengo (born 1933 in Kafubu, Haut-Katanga District
, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- 27 March, 2003) was a Congolese guitarist.
In 1950 Masengo helped train JECOKE, a comedic troop of Kenya
n youths. The JECOKE troop went on tour through Kenya
, Uganda
, Congo Brazzaville, Belgian Congo
, and Cameroon
, with great success, due to their kalinchelincheli dance. A music contest was organized in Leopoldville
in 1956. The winner was JECOKE, who beat out famed local artists such as Wendo Kolosoy
, Grand Kalle
and Franco to win.
The day before the Independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Masengo decided to go to Nairobi
, Kenya
, where he was to make several productions with such great stars as Miriam Makeba
of South Africa
.
Donat Muya, chief of the Lubumbashi
National Museum, says that Masengo went to meet Harry Belafonte
in Kingston, Jamaica
. They sang Masengo's compositions as a duet, and this new fame opened the door for Masengo to get contracts to endorse the products of such firms as Coca-Cola
, Ford, and Shell
. However, Edouard Masengo did not forget his roots in Katanga. He returned there often to visit fellow musicians Losla Abelo and Mwenda wa Bayeke (Jean-Bosco Mwenda).
In 1972 Masengo returned for good to Lubumbashi
, but was stripped of his wealth by the government in Zaire
.
He died in poverty on March 27, 2003, but his musical influence lives on in such artists as Watoto Wawili, Kabwebu Kitambala, Victorina, Ndoa, Bibi Theresa, Jadotville, and others.
Haut-Katanga District
Haut-Katanga District is a district located in the Katanga Province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo....
, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
- 27 March, 2003) was a Congolese guitarist.
In 1950 Masengo helped train JECOKE, a comedic troop of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n youths. The JECOKE troop went on tour through Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Congo Brazzaville, Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
, and Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, with great success, due to their kalinchelincheli dance. A music contest was organized in Leopoldville
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
in 1956. The winner was JECOKE, who beat out famed local artists such as Wendo Kolosoy
Wendo Kolosoy
Antoine Wendo Kolosoy — known as Papa Wendo — was a Congolese musician. He was considered the "Father" of Congolese rumba music, a musical style blending rumba, beguine, waltz, tango and cha-cha.-Early life:...
, Grand Kalle
Grand Kalle
Joseph Kabasele Tshamala , popularly known as Le Grand Kalle, was a Congolese singer and bandleader, considered the father of modern Congolese music...
and Franco to win.
The day before the Independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Masengo decided to go to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, where he was to make several productions with such great stars as Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Donat Muya, chief of the Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
National Museum, says that Masengo went to meet Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
. They sang Masengo's compositions as a duet, and this new fame opened the door for Masengo to get contracts to endorse the products of such firms as Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, Ford, and Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
. However, Edouard Masengo did not forget his roots in Katanga. He returned there often to visit fellow musicians Losla Abelo and Mwenda wa Bayeke (Jean-Bosco Mwenda).
In 1972 Masengo returned for good to Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
, but was stripped of his wealth by the government in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
.
He died in poverty on March 27, 2003, but his musical influence lives on in such artists as Watoto Wawili, Kabwebu Kitambala, Victorina, Ndoa, Bibi Theresa, Jadotville, and others.