But I found a new image of Orchestre Kiam that I’d not seen before. Also I read that both guitarists are now dead, as are a lot of the musicians from the golden era in Kinshasa. I guess there wasn’t much hope of a reunion anyway.
There was also a Kiam song on YouTube that I hadn’t heard, posted a couple of weeks ago. Mayika is the name, and now I’m only missing two songs: Yule and Niamaraley(sp?)
This is a great song, classic sebene riffs and a very nice ensemble vocal call. See what you think:
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! Kiam’s “Baya Baya” is one of my favorites from the golden age of Congolese music: https://cavacha.wordpress.com/2015/05/16/liner-notes-episode-8-cavacha-clave-clavacha/. Afropop.org also did a recent blog on them: http://afropop.org/articles/congos-overlooked-orchestre-kiam-the-story-of-an-oral-history in addition to this one from a few years back: http://afropop.org/articles/respect-orchestre-kiam
Ah yes, I contributed to Matthew’s wonderful PDF. I was waiting to find it published online, thank you for these links!
Kiam to me was one of the greatest bands in Congo. Their music was unique as compaired to the bands of that time. While in high school i couldn’t leave when the song Ifantu is being played. I have looked for live videos invain. Why did Verkys treat us like this yet he had a very big recording studio. If bands like Zaiko langa langa ,Sosoliso etc recorded live music what was wrong with Verkys.All the bands he managed theri’s no live music. This is a big late down.
Kiam to me was one of the greatest bands in Congo. Their music was unique as compaired to the bands of that time. While in high school i couldn’t leave when the song Ifantu is being played. I have looked for live videos invain. Why did Verkys treat us like this yet he had a very big recording studio. If bands like Zaiko langa langa ,Sosoliso etc recorded live music what was wrong with Verkys.All the bands he managed theri’s no live music. This is a big late down.