Simaro Massiya Lutumba Ndomanueno (19 March 1938 – 30 March 2019), known as Simaro, was a Congolese music

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a guitar technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse (music), pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., d ...

ist,

songwriter A songwriter is a person who creates musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music genre and film scoring. ...

, poet, composer, and bandleader. He was a member of the seminal Congo music band

TPOK Jazz OK Jazz, later renamed TPOK Jazz (short for ''Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinois de Jazz''), was a Congolese rumba band from the Democratic Republic of the Congo established in 1956 and fronted by Franco Luambo, Franco. The group disbanded in 1993. ...

, which dominated the music scene in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

(DRC) from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Early life

Simaro was born in

Uíge Province Uíge (pronunciation: ; ) is one of the eighteen Provinces of Angola, located in the northwestern part of the country. Its capital city is of the same name. History During the Middle Ages, the Uíge Province was the heartland of the Kongo Ki ...

Angola Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...

Music career with OK Jazz

Simaro started playing with

Franco Luambo François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (6 July 1938 – 12 October 1989) was a Congolese singer, guitarist, songwriter, bandleader, and cultural revolutionary. He was a central figure in 20th-century Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cong ...

, the founder of

OK Jazz OK Jazz, later renamed TPOK Jazz (short for ''Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinois de Jazz''), was a Congolese rumba band from the Democratic Republic of the Congo established in 1956 and fronted by Franco. The group disbanded in 1993. Location The OK ...

, in 1961. They were later joined by

Josky Kiambukuta Joseph Kiambukuta Londa, known as Josky Kiambukuta, (14 February 1949 – 7 March 2021) was a Congolese performing artist, singer, songwriter and composer. As a member of TPOK Jazz he played alongside Franco during their most popular period in t ...

and

Ndombe Opetum Ndombe Opetum (March 3, 1944 – May 24, 2012), popularly known as Pepe Ndombe, was an Odemba recording artist, composer, and vocalist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz ...

Youlou Mabiala Gilbert Youlou Mabiala (born 3 March 1947), popularly known as Prince Youlou, is a Congo music recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). He was once a member of the Congo Music band TPOK Jazz which ...

and

Madilu System Jean de Dieu Makiese (28 May 1950 – 11 August 2007), popularly known as Madilu System, was a Congolese rumba singer and songwriter, born in what was then Léopoldville, Belgian Congo. He was once a member of the seminal band TPOK Jazz which do ...

also played with

, before their solo careers. Simaro served as

Vice President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

of the band for many years and led the group during Franco's long trips to

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

during the 1980s. His composition of the band's hit song 'Mabele' earned him the nickname 'Poet'. DRC authorities jailed him,

Franco Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" * Franco of Cologne (mid to late 13th cent ...

and other musicians, for two obscene songs in the late 1970s. Simaro is considered as one of the greatest poets, singers and philosophers of Congolese music.

Discography

Simaro is credited with composing many songs for the band, including: *''Likambo Zi Tu Zoto Esilkata Te'' - Sung by Michel Boyibanda,

and

Sam Mangwana Sam Mangwana (born 21 February 1945) is a Congolese musician and songwriter. He was the frontman of his bands Festival des Maquisards and African All Stars. Mangwana was a member of François Luambo Makiadi's seminal band TPOK Jazz, and Tabu Ley ...

* ''Oko Regretter Ngai Mama'' - Sung by Michel Boyibanda,

Wuta Mayi Gaspard Wuta Mayi, commonly known as Wuta Mayi, is a Congolese rumba and soukous vocalist and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). From 1974 to 1982, he was a member of the band TPOK Jazz, led by Franco (François Luambo Mak ...

and

Lola Checain Lola Djangi Chécain (18 August 1942 - 10 August 1992) was a soukous recording artist, composer, and vocalist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was once a member of the soukous band TPOK Jazz, led by François Luambo Makiadi, which domi ...

* ''Bodutaka'' - Sung by

, Michèl Boyibanda,

and Lola Chécain * ''Mabele'' - Sung by

* ''Eau Benite'' - Sung by

* ''Maya'' - Sung by Carlyto Lassa * ''Testament ya Bowule'' - Sung by Malage de Lugendo * ''Vaccination'' - Sung by Kiesse Diambu * ''Ebale ya Zaire'' - Sung by

* ''Faute Ya Commercant'' - Sung by

* ''Cedou'' - Sung by

, Michel Boyibanda &

* ''Bisalela'' - Sung by

, Michel Boyibanda and

* ''Mbongo'' - Sung by Djo Mpoyi * ''Salle d'attente'' - Sung by

Ferre Gola Ferre may refer to: People Given name * Ferré Gola (born 1976), Congolese singer * Ferre Grignard (1939-1982), Belgian skiffle-singer * Ferre Spruyt (born 1986), Belgian speed skater Surname * Adelaida Ferré Gomis (1881-1955), Catalan l ...

, M'bilia Bel and

Papa Wemba Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (14 June 1949 – 24 April 2016), known professionally as Papa Wemba (), was a Congolese singer and musician who played Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo. Dubbed the "King of Rumba Rock", he was one of ...

* Kadima - Sung by Djo Mpoyi

Music career post OKJazz

Following Franco's death in 1989, Simaro agreed to continue the band, sharing 30% of revenue with the late band leader's family. In 1993 OKJazz split over disagreements how funds were shared. Simaro and 30 OKJazz musicians formed Bana OK in 1994.

Death

Simaro Massiya Lutumba died in a hospital in

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, on Saturday 30 March 2019. The musician was known to suffer from

diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...

and

hypertension Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a Chronic condition, long-term Disease, medical condition in which the blood pressure in the artery, arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms i ...

References

External links

Interview With Simaro Lutumba In 2002
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lutumba, Simaro 1938 births 2019 deaths Musicians from Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo guitarists Soukous musicians TPOK Jazz members