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 technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guita ...
ist,
songwriter
A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes 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 ...
, 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. The group disbanded in 1993, but reformed in ...
, which dominated the music scene in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
(DRC) from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Early life
Simaro was born in
Uíge Province,
Angola
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, capital = Luanda
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, religion_year = 2020
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, coordina ...
.
Music career with OK Jazz
Simaro started playing with
Franco Luambo
François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (6 July 1938 – 12 October 1989) was a Congolese musician. He was a major figure in 20th-century Congolese music, and African music in general, principally as the leader for over 30 years of TPOK Jazz, the most po ...
, 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, but reformed in ...
, in 1961. They were later joined by
Josky Kiambukuta 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 and
Madilu System also played with
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, but reformed in ...
, before their solo careers. Simaro served as
Vice President
A 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 vice president is o ...
of the band for many years and led the group during Franco's long trips to
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located enti ...
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"
Prefix
* Franco, a prefix used when ...
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 Michel Boyibanda is a soukous recording artist, composer, and vocalist in the Republic of the Congo. He was once a member of the Congolese Rumba band TPOK Jazz, led by François Luambo Makiadi, which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1950 ...
,
Josky Kiambukuta and
Sam Mangwana
* ''Oko Regretter Ngai Mama'' - Sung by
Michel Boyibanda Michel Boyibanda is a soukous recording artist, composer, and vocalist in the Republic of the Congo. He was once a member of the Congolese Rumba band TPOK Jazz, led by François Luambo Makiadi, which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1950 ...
,
Josky Kiambukuta,
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 Luamb ...
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
Sam Mangwana,
Michèl Boyibanda,
Josky Kiambukuta and
Lola Chécain
* ''Mabele'' - Sung by
Sam Mangwana
* ''Eau Benite'' - Sung by
Madilu System
* ''Maya'' - Sung by Carlyto Lassa
* ''Testament ya Bowule'' - Sung by
Malage de Lugendo
* ''Vaccination'' - Sung by Kiesse Diambu
* ''Ebale ya Zaire'' - Sung by
Sam Mangwana
* ''Faute Ya Commercant'' - Sung by
Sam Mangwana
* ''Cedou'' - Sung by
Sam Mangwana,
Michel Boyibanda Michel Boyibanda is a soukous recording artist, composer, and vocalist in the Republic of the Congo. He was once a member of the Congolese Rumba band TPOK Jazz, led by François Luambo Makiadi, which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1950 ...
&
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"
Prefix
* Franco, a prefix used when ...
* ''Bisalela'' - Sung by
Youlou Mabiala,
Josky Kiambukuta,
Michel Boyibanda Michel Boyibanda is a soukous recording artist, composer, and vocalist in the Republic of the Congo. He was once a member of the Congolese Rumba band TPOK Jazz, led by François Luambo Makiadi, which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1950 ...
and
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 Luamb ...
* ''Mbongo'' - Sung by Djo Mpoyi
* ''Salle d'attente'' - Sung by
Ferre Gola,
Josky Kiambukuta,
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 th ...
* 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
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
, on Saturday 30 March 2019. The musician was known to suffer from
diabetes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...
and
hypertension.
See also
*
African Rumba
*
Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congolese music is one of the most influential music forms of the African continent since the 1930s. Congolese musicians had a huge impact on the African musical scene and outside. Many contemporary genres of music were created or heavily influe ...
*
Francois Luambo Makiadi
François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (6 July 1938 – 12 October 1989) was a Congolese musician. He was a major figure in 20th-century Congolese music, and African music in general, principally as the leader for over 30 years of TPOK Jazz, the most p ...
*
List of African musicians
This is a list of musicians from African countries
Algeria
''See:'' List of Algerian musicians
Angola
''See:'' List of Angolan musicians
Benin
* Angelique Kidjo
* Wally Badarou
Botswana
* Banjo Mosele
* Franco and Afro Musica
* K ...
References
External links
Interview With Simaro Lutumba In 2002
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lutumba, Simaro
1938 births
2019 deaths
People from Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of the Congo guitarists
Soukous musicians
TPOK Jazz members