Tabu Ley Rochereau

Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu (13 November 1940 – 30 November 2013), known professionally as Tabu Ley Rochereau, was a Congolese singer-songwriter, record executive, and bandleader who became one of the most influential figures in Congolese rumba. Noted for his clarion baritone voice and prolific songwriting, he is credited with composing more than 3,000 songs and recording 250 albums during a career spanning over five decades. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him 178th on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Tabu Ley was born in Bagata, Kwilu, and made his official debut with Le Grand Kallé's African Jazz at the Vis-à-Vis dance hall in Kinshasa on 6 June 1959 and became a permanent member of the band following its return from Brussels in 1960.

Musical career

1940–1958: Early life and career beginnings

Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu was born on 13 November 1940 in Bagata, Kwilu in the then-Belgian Congo. He attended the École Moyenne Saint Raphaël in Limete, where his education later helped him secure a position in the secretariat of the Athenaeum of Kalina (Athénée de Kalina). Around the same time, he also sang with a small band called Afric'Ambiance, mainly out of personal interest, and performed in a bar on the corner of École and Kigoma streets in the Kinshasa commune. He later adopted the stage name "Rochereau" after the French General Pierre Denfert-Rochereau because he liked the name and had learned about him in school. During those years, Western films were very popular in the city's cinemas, including Macoley on Kigoma Street, Siluvangi on Croix-Rouge, and Mbongo Mpasi on Ruzizi Street in the Casamar quartier of Barumbu. Many young people followed the Bills fashion subculture, and Tabu Ley often appeared wearing a scarf around his neck. Although he made his debut in 1959, he only became a permanent member of African Jazz after the group's return from Brussels in 1960. He then recorded with Kallé and Mujos at Éditions Esengo. The latter, which translates to "never defeated", was inspired by the life and work of Jean Lema, a journalist for Radio Congo Belge who provided the live radio transmission of the Congo's independence ceremonies on 30 June 1960 and was a close confidant of Kallé. While in Brussels, intra-group disputes within African Jazz in Kinshasa prompted several members to establish the splinter group called African Jazz–Nico. After Kallé returned, the rival factions reconciled in June 1961, and in September, the reunited band celebrated their reunion with a concert featuring Déchaud's emblematic composition "African Jazz Mokili Mobimba" (denoting "African Jazz all over the world"), which was initially performed by Tabu Ley before later being interpreted by Kallé. With Guivano present, Tabu Ley asked Faugus whether he could create a song around the rhythm, and Faugus agreed. Tabu Ley initially proposed a romantic theme, but Faugus suggested exploring death instead, inspiring the song "Mokolo Nako Kufa". Held at the Kinshasa Zoological Garden, the competition brought together African Fiesta National and leading bands including Orchestre Vox Africa and Négro-Succès. They won first place with the French-language patriotic song "Congo Avenir", The band thereafter represented the Congo at Expo 67, performed in Québec City, and, on their return journey, stopped in Brussels to record new material before heading back to Kinshasa. after which, in 1969, Tabu Ley founded his own organization, International Service Artistic (ISA), along with an eponymous record label. one of its members later became one of French pop singer Claude François' Claudettes. Seeking to expand his reputation beyond Africa, Tabu Ley set his sights on performing at Paris' Olympia Hall. Two Ivorians, Samba and Léon Xacis, invited Bruno Coquatrix, the owner and manager of the Olympia Hall, to Kinshasa. Tabu Ley and Orchestre Afrisa International gave him a private preview performance at the Suzanella bar. After being impressed by their talent, Coquatrix approved their appearance at the Olympia Hall, while President Mobutu Sese Seko provided his presidential estate to Tabu Ley and Orchestre Afrisa International for eight months to prepare for the performance. The opening act was French singer Julien Clerc. Several prominent French entertainers attended the concert, including Claude François, Alain Delon, Mireille Mathieu, and Sylvie Vartan.

Among the songs he performed with Orchestre Afrisa International was "Asambalela", which opened with a propulsive, staccato rhythmic pattern before transitioning into the Congolese rumba "Rivera". Kalome noted that the audience responded so enthusiastically to "Munyenge Ma Ngando" that Tabu Ley performed it twice. and, according to Chadrack Mpereng of Eventsrdc Radio, the concert series "paved the way for other African artists to break through the glass ceiling". President Senghor, impressed by Tabu Ley's attainments, sent him a congratulatory letter and invited him to Senegal. Their visit to Dakar, especially their experience at the Soumbédioune street market, became the source of inspiration for the soumbé djoumé, or soum-djoum dance music. By this time, Orchestre Afrisa International had become one of Africa's leading bands, along with TPOK Jazz. They recorded several hits, including the 1973 "Kaful Mayay" and "Aon Aon". They later performed at Zaire 74, and this performance was shown in the documentary film Soul Power.

In 1975, Tabu Ley and Mangwana reunited to record the hit single "Mose Konzo", backed by Orchestre Afrisa International. The next year, Tabu Ley opened the Type K nightclub and, Disco Stock's catalogue included independent recordings as well as licensed albums from producers in Abidjan and Zaire. Following Franco and TPOK Jazz's 1980 visit to Abidjan, Cuxac acquired the international rights to issue TPOK Jazz's first series of original albums. A new Disco Stock 33-rpm release (DS7936) followed, featuring "Maze" alongside three other tracks. Mafina called it "one of Tabu Ley's major works".

Music historian Gary Stewart notes that Tabu Ley had long welcomed women into his bands, including Photas Myosotis and Henriette "Miss Bora" Bora Uzima. Miss Bora joined Tabu Ley's African Fiesta National in 1966, where he gave her the nickname she became known by. Although the role marginalized women socially, it brought about a significant shift in their visibility in Congolese popular music. Stewart credits Tabu Ley with challenging the male dominance of the Congolese music scene and opening opportunities for women in bands. Initially recruited as a member of the Rocherettes' dance troupe, she soon emerged as Afrisa's principal female vocalist, In 1983, Tabu Ley also recorded the collaborative albums Choc Choc Choc and L'Événement! with his longtime rival Franco. which criticized the managers and bureaucrats of Zairean parastatals and was widely interpreted as an indirect criticism of President Mobutu Sese Seko, who appointed them.

1984–1996: From the U.S. breakthrough to exile In early 1984, Tabu Ley made his first major attempt to enter the U.S. market with the self-titled greatest-hits album Tabu Ley. Unlike Franco, he partnered with an American record company, licensing six recent Genidia recordings to New Jersey-based Shanachie Records, including his jointly composed hit "Eswi Yo Wapi" with Mbilia Bel. which was supported by the Tabu Ley-written hit "Nakei Nairobi" (Lingala for "I am going to Nairobi") and featured Mbilia Bel on lead vocals. The song follows Duni, a childhood friend who had relocated to Nairobi, and Mbilia Bel's character's decision to travel there and bring him back to Kinshasa after learning of the difficulties he faced abroad. Some accounts have suggested that Duni may have been a reference to Tabu Ley himself. "Nakei Nairobi" became a hit in East Africa and, In 1985, Afrisa released several albums, including Haffi Deo "L'Eau De Dieu" and Seigneur Tabu Ley Rochereau, while Tabu Ley released the collaborative albums La Beauté D'Une Femme with Mbilia Bel and Omona Wapi with Franco.

In 1986, Tabu Ley recruited another female vocalist, Thérèse Kishila Ngoyi, known as Faya Tess. That year, Afrisa toured East Africa, performing in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Following her departure, Tabu Ley left Zaire for Virginia and later to Paris on a temporary visa and remained abroad as political and economic conditions worsened. His departure and subsequent recordings in Paris further strained his relationship with Mobutu. He told the Los Angeles Times that the government believed he had "run away" and summoned him to return, but he refused and was subsequently barred from returning. Although Babeti Soukous is rooted in soukous and described in its liner notes as "Zairean pop", it incorporates elements of Latin music, jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, and Congolese dance rhythms. The Washington Post described Faya Tess' vocals as restrained despite her soukous hip-rotation moves, while praising Beyou Ciel as a "dynamic singer". Tabu Ley said that returning permanently would be risky: although he did not expect to be harmed or arrested, he feared being prevented from performing and possibly denied medical treatment. He maintained the U.S. as his base for touring and international travel.

On 30 March 1993, Tabu Ley and Afrisa released Exil-Ley through SonoDisc, featuring the hit single "Le glas a sonné" ("The Bell Has Tolled"), an openly anti-Mobutu song that inspired numerous imitators. "Le glas a sonné" was censored by the Commission de Censure de la Musique. On 24 August, they performed at the Long Beach Museum of Art for the final concert of its summer series. In 2001, Tabu Ley performed at the Festival Panafricain de Musique (FESPAM), and on 13 April 2002, he appeared at Emeneya's concert at the Olympia Hall. He was also scheduled to perform at the LCS venue in Paris on 30 November alongside Rocherettes, as well as Love-Ley and musicians from the Dynastie band. However, the concert was canceled after the musicians and dancers were unable to obtain visas because of the widespread Ngulu phenomenon, in which officials exploited the visa system by sending non-musicians in place of legitimate artists.

In 2003, Tabu Ley released the 11-track Tempelo after several years without an album, during which he toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, and South America. The album was issued through Next Music and distributed by SonoDisc, incorporating drum machines and synthesizers into its sound. She contributed vocals to the choruses and wrote and performed "Move Around". In July 2008, he represented the DRC at the World Music Festival in Varadero, Cuba.

Political career When Mobutu was ousted in 1997 and the AFDL, led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, took control, Tabu Ley returned to Kinshasa and was appointed as a deputy by Kabila. However, during his time in parliament, he was more frequently seen on stage performing and singing songs in praise of Kabila than engaging in legislative work. The appointment was made by presidential decree and announced on Radio Télévision nationale congolaise (RTNC) as part of a wider political reshuffle ordered by President Joseph Kabila. Relatives, political figures, fellow artists, and members of the public gathered to pay their respects.

Recorded output Tabu Ley is credited with an outstanding body of work. Afropop Worldwide estimates that he was responsible for as "many as 3,000 songs and 250 albums", while AllMusic states that he composed "more than 2,000 songs". His earliest recordings with African Jazz appeared on the Esengo and Surboum African Jazz labels. According to the AfroDisc website, which documents African popular music issued on shellac, vinyl, and CD, Tabu Ley's African Jazz recordings from 1959 to 1963 released through these labels have yet to be fully documented. Between 1962 and 1965, approximately 115 45-rpm vinyl singles featuring African Fiesta were issued on the Vita label.

Flash, Vita 1000, and ISA African Fiesta National's 45-rpm vinyl singles were first issued on the Flash label, with the band's initial releases appearing there in 1966. Altogether, Flash issued 50 singles, although four catalogue numbers may never have been used. In 1968, these releases were followed by a new series on the Vita label, which had previously been associated with African Fiesta's recordings from 1963 to 1965.

Tabu Ley was married to Georgette Mowana, known as Tété, with whom he had five children. He later had a relationship with Jeanne Mokomo, who was crowned Miss Zaire in 1969. Although they never married, the couple had six children.

Side A: "Fiesta en Avant" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Mambo [Fo11.465] Side B: "Mwana ya Ramazani" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Lingala (Congolese rumba) [Fo11.466] Side A: "Cinq Ans" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) Side B: "Yo Lokoso" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) Side A: "Tabou" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Lingala (Congolese rumba) [Fo11.469] Side B: "Guajira" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Afro-Cuban (Agosar Cubain) [Fo11.471] "Mokolo Nako Kufa" – Lingala (Congolese rumba). Placed on Side B of the 45 rpm record catalogued as FL.12.

African Fiesta National LabelYearRecords and detailsRef.Éditions Flash1966 Side A: "Maloba na Yo Pata" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Lingala (Congolese rumba) [11.470] Side B: "Lili Mwana ya Quartier" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Lingala (Bouché) [11.474] Side A: "Moussa" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Soukous-tétard Side B: "Tika Nameka" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) Side A: "Salongo" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Folklore Side B: "Bavon" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Congolese rumba1971 Side A: "Marthe Maboke" (Mavatiku Visi) Side B: "En Avant KDL" Side A: "Mundi" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Soum [IC8A] Side B: "Maloba ya Moweyi" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Soum [IC11B] Side A: "Objectif 80" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) Side B: "Pitié" (Tabu Ley Rochereau)"Amitié Sénégalo-Congolaise" (Tabu Ley Rochereau)"Tobatela Nyama" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Soum [IC15A]"Kinshasa" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) "Mongali" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Authen "Mathinda-Mathi" (Tabu Ley Rochereau)–"Nabeli Cholera" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Soum –"Leki ya Mongali... Tosuki Wapi" (Tabu Ley Rochereau)1973 Side A: "Sebene 182" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) Side B: "Kiwelewele" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) Side A: "Tete Nakozonga" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) Side B: "Afrisa L'International" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) Side A: "Dialogue" (Tabu Ley) [175.0254] Side B: "Mofuku na Libenga" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Marie-Lou" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Libala to Cinéma" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Leki Ya Mongali... Tosuki Wapi?" (Tabu Ley Rochereau) – Congolese rumba [R28]

Side B: "Lala Biy" (Lennon-McCartney) – Congolese rumba [R28]"Au Dessus des Moyens" (Tabu Ley) [FOL19.882]"Aon-Aon" (Tabu Ley) [FOL19.884]"Nakoya Kobebisa R." (Tabu Ley) [175.01073]"Nati Ye Goal" (Tabu Ley) [175.01085] Side A: "Kaful Mayay 1" – Congolese rumba [R 53] Side B: "Kaful Mayay 2" – Congolese rumba [R 53] Side A: "Sambuluma 1" (Tabu Ley) – Soum [175.01083] Side B: "Sambuluma 2" (Tabu Ley) – Soum [175.01084]–"Mimi Ley" (Tabu Ley) [175.1199]1974"Melina" (Tabu Ley) [175.1457]"Omanga" (Tabu Ley) "Palmarès" (Tabu Ley) [MZD109] Side A: "Kaful Mayay 1" (Tabu Ley) [175.1982] Side B: "Kaful Mayay 2" (Tabu Ley)–"Sombele" (Tabu Ley) [175.1653]– Side A: "Nzala" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Mband Nayei" (Tabu Ley) [175.1657]–"Karibou ya Bintou" (Tabu Ley) [175.2136/903]1975 Side A: "Kinsuka 1" (Tabu Ley) [175.2325 / MZD 1.062] Side B: "Kinsuka 2" (Tabu Ley) [175.2326 / MZD 1.063] "Mass Media" (Tabu Ley) [175.2448]African Side A: "Kobota Elengi" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Confusion" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Likambo ya Balobi" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Mbelenga 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Sala Lokola Ngai 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Sala Lokola Ngai 2" (Tabu Ley)Éditions Isa Side A: "Yombe 1" (Tabu Ley) [1702F/A] Side B: "Yombe 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Adeito 1" (Tabu Ley) [176.258] Side B: "Adeito 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Tosa Mpia" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Amando" (Jossart N'Yoka Longo) Side A: "Likambo ya Mokanda 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Likambo ya Mokanda 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Poto Galo 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Poto Galo 2" (Tabu Ley)– "Karibou ya Bintou" (Tabu Ley)1978 Side A: "Ponce Pilate 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Ponce Pilate 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Nakoka 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Nakoka 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Sorozo 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Sorozo 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Mela 1 (Tabu Ley)" Side B: "Mela 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Mbote ya Kinvwanga 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Mbote ya Kinvwanga 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Liaso 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Liaso 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Mère Ando 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Mère Ando 2" (Tabu Ley)1979 Side A: "Nayeba Mbanda 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Nayeba Mbanda 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Bwale 1" (Tabu Ley) Side B: "Bwale 2" (Tabu Ley) Side A: "Pika Pende 1" (Tabu Ley)

Solo albums

Maze (1981) Rythme Soum Gueye (1980) Tanga Tanga (1981) Linda Soleil (1981) Kele Bibi (1983) Tabu Ley Rochereau (1985) Sacramento Avec Canta Nyboma (1986) Tour Eiffel 100 Ans (1989) Soum-Djoum (1989) Face A Face (1991) Exil-Ley (1993) Kebo Beat (1997) Tempelo (2002)

Collaborative albums

L'Événement! (1983, with Franco) Choc Choc Choc (1983, with Franco) Omona Wapi (1985, with Franco) La Beauté D'Une Femme (1985, with Mbilia Bel) Grand Seigneur Tabu Ley Presente Mbilia Bel (1986, with Mbilia Bel) Lisanga Ya "Banganga" (1992, with Pépé Kallé)

Compilation albums

Man from Kinshasa (1991) Tabu Ley (1994) Africa Worldwide - 35th Anniversary (1996)

Contributing artist The Rough Guide to Congo Gold (2008, World Music Network) Congo Funk! (2024, Analog Africa)

Awards and honors Honorary Knight (Senegal) Gold Medal for Arts, Sciences and Letters (Democratic Republic of the Congo)