Biography
18 July 1945, Kinshasa, Congo. A protégé of Tabu Ley (aka Rochereau) and Franco, vocalist and composer Mangwana is one of Zaire’s least conventional stars. He is known as Le Pigeon Voyageur, the travelling pigeon, a musician who constantly travels, side-stepping the usual stereotypes. Big stars have regular bands - Mangwana has none. They buy hotels, houses, clubs - Mangwana places no value on them. In Zaire, he stays with friends. His career has provoked controversy, rumour and violence - plus a new Zairean style that mixes the rumba with beguine to ferment a distinctive Afro-Antillean mixture. He started his career with a five-year stint with Rochereau’s Africa Fiesta, before leaving for L’Orchestre Maquisards. In 1969, after several hits, including ‘Zelangaina Sala’, the band folded. Mangwana formed Vox Afrique, with Dalienst, then went solo, working as musical director and arranger for Rochereau, standing in for him during...
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