Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Boketshu 1er & Classic Swede Swede

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Boketshu 1er & Classic Swede Swede
(Congo-Kinshasa)

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Boketshu 1er & Classic Swede Swede have been among the first trying to create a mix of traditional Congolese music and urban music. Created in 1985, Classic Swede Swede make what is now called "tradi-modern" music, based on Mongo folkore. With modern instruments, mainly bass and drums, they reinterprete traditional rhythms, but with the energy usually seen with modern Congolese music. They are popular for this energy, their dances such as the « Sundama » and the « Etutana », but foremostly for their lyrics on issues from modern Congolese society: politicians, preachers, street children and misery. Influences from modern Congolese music can be heard in the structure of the songs (the use of the sebene) and, on their latest albums, the, albeit timid, use of the electric guitar. Their first albums are presented as group efforts, later albums are signed by Boketshu, accompanied by Classic Swede Swede. Various off-shoots have occurred over the years, for album titles please see the discography part.

The group encountered difficulties with censorship by the Congolese authorities for their alledgedly obscene dances. A first European tour in 1989, and a recording released by Belgian label Crammed did a lot for their promotion though. In recent years, there has been a rise in the number and popularity of groups making this "musique tradi-moderne", coming from various regions of Congo. The most successful examples are Konono No.1 and les Bayuda du Congo.

Musicians on the album « Avant-Avant - Pas de recul »:
Lead vocals: Boketshu 1er, Petit Logique, Marcel Aisance, Noko Esombo Benjamin;
Bass: Bebeto, Kunter, Kelani, Ousmane;
Keyboards: Vasco da Gama, Kunterkelani;
Xylophone: Ngunza Tshimbalaga;
Drums: Nono Brevete;
Lokole: Leon Nkeka, Patsherie Mbonda;
Live drum: Paul Lukoke, Depaulca.

Sources:
Various album covers, www.bozar.be.

Born: as Boketshu Longombolo
Style: Traditional-modern Congolese music / tradi-moderne / mongo folkore.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Nani ateki Congo na biso? Finie la récréation!	2006	WAM Production
Pas de complexe	2005	Jacko Productions JP06103	Also available as DVD (JP06704)
A qui la faute?	2001		CD
Avant-Avant - Pas de recul	1999	Sonima SMCD 1339	CD
Mokili Etumba	1993	Umwe Records CD9401	CD
Toleki Bango (Miles Ahead)	1991	Crammed Discs/CramWorld CRAW1	CD
Albums by Swede Swede AC Milan:
Mbongo Ya Bibende	1995	R. Demack CD 250795	CD
Albums by Shada Maneno (former member of Swede Swede AC Milan):
L'Homme Orchestre - Live		Galadisc BG3	CD
Albums by Swede Lokole (based in Abidjan, led by Dominique Louya):
Wait and See	[2002]	Mélodie 08865-2	CD
Malamou			CD
Albums by Swede Swede Ibodo:
Sundama Sunde...Lenga Lenga Lenga	1993	Gillette d'Or	4 tracks CD