TPOK Jazz
Members of OK Jazz inBrussels, 1961
Background information
Also known as	OK Jazz
Origin	Belgian Congo Republic of Congo Zaire
Genres	Congolese Rumba
Years active	1956 (1956)–1993

OK Jazz, later renamedTPOK Jazz (short forTout Puissant Orchestre Kinois de Jazz), was aCongolese rumba band from theDemocratic Republic of the Congo established in 1956 and fronted byFranco. The group disbanded in 1993, but reformed in 1996.

The OK Jazz band was formed in 1956 in Léopoldville (nowKinshasa), in what was at the time theBelgian Congo (now theDemocratic Republic of the Congo). At one time in the late 1970s and early 1980s the band grew to more than fifty members. During that period, it often split into two groups; one group stayed in Kinshasa, playing in nightclubs there, while the other group toured inAfrica,Europe andNorth America.

The musicians who started OK Jazz includedVicky Longomba,Jean Serge Essous,François Luambo Makiadi,De La Lune,Augustin Moniania Roitelet,La Monta LiBerlin,Saturnin Pandi,Nicolas Bosuma Bakili Dessoin and vocalistPhilippe Lando Rossignol. They used to play at Loningisa Studios inKinshasa as individual artists, before they got together to form a band in June 1956. The name OK Jazz originated from the bar where they played, which was called the OK Bar, owned by Gaston Cassien (who later changed his name to Oscar Kashama, after Authenticité). The new band played regularly at a specific studio in the city during the week, and on some weekends they played at weddings. In 1957, the lead vocalist, Philippe Lando Rossignol, quit OK Jazz and was replaced byEdo Nganga, fromCongo-Brazzaville. Later in the same year,Isaac Musekiwa, a saxophonist fromZimbabwe, joined the band. Up to that time the band's leadership was shared between Vicky Longomba, Essous and Franco.^[1]

In the early 1960s Vicky Longomba and Jean Essous left OK Jazz to joinAfrican Jazz. Franco then became the leader of the band. He recruited vocalistsKwamy Munsi andMulamba Joseph Mujos.Simaro Masiya Lutumba joined OK Jazz in 1961.^[2] Essous was replaced by saxophonistVerckys Kiamuangana Mateta. In 1962 OK Jazz visitedNigeria on their first foreign tour. Later that year,Vicky Longomba rejoined the band.Lola Checain, a vocalist who had left earlier also came back.

Around this time, the band changed their name to TPOK Jazz. TP stood for "Tout Puissant" (all mighty). Band membership had increased to over twenty. The quality of their music had improved to where they could challenge African Jazz for the position of Congo's premier group. Franco's music had such popular appeal mainly because it discussed issues affecting ordinary people on a daily basis. Franco led other Congolese musicians in using new technology to produce sounds of much higher quality than in any other part of Africa. The new technology included electric guitars, amplifiers and basses. Congo had now assumed the premier position as Africa's leading music nation.^[3] During the late 1960s,Kwamy Munsi andMulamba Joseph Mujos led nine other musicians in a mass defection from TPOK Jazz. A few months later, saxophonistVerckys Kiamuangana Mateta also left. Franco recruitedRondot Kassongo wa Kassongo to replace Verckys. He also brought in solo guitaristMose Fan Fan. Fan Fan had a new style of guitar-playing called sebene, which was more danceable. This style came to be known asSebene ya ba Yankees. Fan Fan also composed a number of extremely popular hits, including "Dje Melasi".^[4]

During the 1970s Franco and TPOK Jazz consolidated their position as one of the two giants of Congolese popular music, along withGrand Kalle & l'African Jazz. Many musical stars emerged from both of these bands. TPOK Jazz was staging concerts all over Africa, including places such asChad andSudan. The band's finances also improved tremendously.

Franco brought on board the composer/vocalistSam Mangwana, who has a Zimbabwean father and anAngolan mother, but was born and raised inKinshasa, DRC. He spoke English, Lingala, French and Portuguese, along with a number of other African languages. His recruitment energised the band and infuriatedAfrisa, where he came from.

In early 1970Vicky Longomba, who was then acting as Co-president of the band left.Mose Fan Fan, the band's flamboyant solo guitarist also left. ThenYoulou Mabiala quit and formedOrchestre Somo Somo with Fan Fan. Soon after thatTshongo Bavon Marie Marie, Franco's biological brother died in an automobile accident. The band fell upon hard times with low record sales and as sparsely attended concerts. Franco was grief-stricken and despondent and stopped playing music for some time. Upon his return, he recorded several songs in memory of his late brother.

He then began to rebuild the band. This coincided with the restructuring of Congo by PresidentMobutu Sese Seko under the program of "L'Authenticite". The name of the country was changed fromCongo-Kinshasa toZaire. Franco adopted the names "L'Okanga La Ndju Pene Luambo Luanzo Makiadi". During this time, vocalistMayaula Mayoni came on board, along with guitaristsMpundi Decca,Gege Mangaya,Michelino Mavatiku Visi andThierry Mantuika. Franco then appointedSimaro Lutumba, as the chef d'orchestre. Sam Mangwana composed his hitLuka Mobali Moko around this time.^[5]

In 1973Josky Kiambukuta Londa, a seasoned composer and vocalist, joined the band. In 1974,Youlou Mabiala returned to TPOK Jazz. However, Sam Mangwana left and started a solo career inCôte d'Ivoire.Ndombe Opetum was recruited fromAfrisa International to replace Mangwana. He came along with hornsmanEmpompo Loway. In 1975 Franco released yet another classic hitBomba Bomba Mabe.^[6]

By the mid-1970s Franco was one of Zaire's wealthiest citizens. He invested heavily inreal estate inBelgium,France and in Zaire. He owned Kinshasa's four largest and most popular nightclubs, the biggest of which wasUn-deux-trois. TPOK Jazz played there every weekend to a packed house. In 1976, vocalistZitani Dalienst Ya Ntesa and guitaristGerry Dialungana were convinced to join TPOK Jazz.Mayaula Mayoni composed a song,Cheri Bondowe which was released in an album that also includedAlimatou andBisalela.

In 1977 Franco introduced a handicapped female singer known asMpongo Love. Despite her handicap which was the result of childhood polio, she went on to become one of the continents most popular singers on the strength of her charming, vivacious voice and her songwriting.Papa Noël Nedule, an accomplished guitarist joined soon after that. Later that year the band represented Zaire in what was Africa's largest ever cultural event,Festac 77 which was staged inLagos, Nigeria.

In 1978 Franco released two songs — "Helene" and "Jacky" — that were deemed "indecent" by the Attorney General of his native country. After a brief trial, he was convicted and sent to prison, along with other band members, includingSimaro Lutumba. Franco was released two months later, following street protests. That same year,Mayaula Mayoni released the song "Nabali Misere" (I am married to misery). He quit the band soon afterwards, to pursue a solo career.^[7]

In 1979 Franco moved his recording base from Kinshasa toBrussels, Belgium, to take advantage of superior recording facilities. Franco embarked on a tour of eightWest African countries. That same yearJosky releasedPropretaire.^[8]

This period marked the pinnacle in the success of the band and that of its leader,Franco Luambo Makiadi. The band was releasing an average of four albums a year during this period. The rival Congolese bands,Afrisa International andOrchestre Veve could not keep up with the competition. Life was good.^[9] In 1982Sam Mangwana returned briefly and released an album with Franco calledCooperation. Franco also released several albums with former nemesisTabu Ley. In 1983 TPOK Jazz toured the United States of America for the first time. That year the song "Non", featuringMadilu System and Franco in alternating lead vocals, was released.^[10]

In the mid-1980s the band continued to churn out best sellers includingMakambo Ezali Borreaux,12,600 Letters to Franco,Pesa Position,Mario andBoma Ngai na Boma Yo. By this time, Madilu System had taken over as the lead vocalist. In 1986,Josky Kiambukuta andZitani Dalienst Ya Ntesa, two vocalists who felt they were not getting enough prime time exposure led another mass exodus to form their own band. Around this time,Simaro Lutumba released an album outside the OK Jazz system, featuring the song "Maya". During the same timeframe,Malage de Lugendo, a vocalist, was recruited. AlsoKiesse Diambu ya Ntessa fromAfrisa and female vocalistJolie Detta came on board.^[11]

At the beginning of 1987, Franco released a 15-minute song with the title "Attention Na Sida" (Beware of AIDS). Sung mainly in French amid heavy African drums and a kaleidoscope of thundering guitars, the song is moving even if one does not understand all the words.^[12] Also in 1987, TPOK Jazz were invited to perform at the 4th All-Africa Games inNairobi,Kenya. On one of the eight albums that the band released in 1987, calledLes On Dit, Franco introduced two new female vocalistsNana Akumu andBaniel Bambo. In 1988, Josky and Dalienst re-joined the band.

1989 was a challenging year for the band. Franco's health was in obvious decline. He had by now moved permanently to Brussels. He did not play much and when he did, could only manage about twenty minutes. The band started to fall apart with the defection ofMalage de Lugendo andDizzy andDecca, who returned toKinshasa to pursue other opportunities. Later that year Sam Mangwana teamed with Franco to release the albumForever. The album sleeve carried a photograph of Franco in which he appeared emaciated and obviously in ill-health. It turned out to be Franco's last album.

On 12 October 1989, Francois Luambo Makiadi died in a hospital in Brussels, Belgium. His body was flown back to Zaire. After four days of mourning, he was given a state funeral on 17 October 1989, by Mobutu Sese Seko's government.^[13]

Following the death of Franco, the band members, led bySimaro Lutumba,Josky Kiambukuta,Ndombe Opetum andMadilu System approached the Franco family and agreed to split earnings; (70% musicians and 30% family). This arrangement worked from August 1989 until December 1993.^[14]

During that period, the band released an album entitledHommage A Luambo Makiadi, made up of songs recorded before Franco died.Josky released an album featuring the song "Chandra". Simarro released an album that featured the hit "Eau Benite", sung by Madilu, and another albumSomo, which included the songs "Marby", composed by Josky, and "Mort Viviant Somida", composed byMadilu System. The band continued to tour both in Africa and in Europe. More defections beset the band but the majority of the musicians hung in there.

Then in December 1993 it all came crashing down. The Franco family was not satisfied with the profit-sharing arrangement in place at the time. The family wanted more money. They could not reach an agreement with the musicians. The musicians returned the musical equipment to the family and went on to form a new band,Bana OK. Thus ended the life of one of Africa's most famous bands of the twentieth century, that lasted more than thirty-seven years; from June 1956 until December 1993.^[15]

TPOK Jazz had many members over the nearly 38 years of its existence.^[16] The list of band members reads like a "Congolese Music Hall of Fame Inductees". Many members came and went, with many of those who left coming back, some on more than one occasion. Here are some of the members of the band.^[17][18]

A small fraction of the hundreds of records and albums released by TPOK Jazz during the thirty-seven and a half years of the band's existence includes:^[20][21]

• African Rumba
• Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Francois Luambo Makiadi
• List of African musicians

• Ewens, Graeme (1994).Congo Colossus: The Life and Legacy of Franco & OK Jazz. North Walsham: Buku Press.ISBN 9780952365501.

• Overview of TPOK Jazz – Written In 2012
• François Luambo Makiadi, The James Brown of Africa
• Jesse Samba Wheeler,"Rumba Lingala As Colonial Resistance",Image & Narrative, March 2005.
• "Congo music",AfroPop Worldwide.
• Banning, Eyre,Interview With Simaro Lutumba, Kinshasa, Congo, 2002.
• "Télé Zaïre 1975 Franco & le T.P. O.K. Jazz"
• TPOK Jazz discography atDiscogs
• Ok Jazz atIMDb
• TPOK Jazz atIMDb

• 1956 establishments in the Belgian Congo
• 1993 disestablishments in Zaire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo musical groups
• French-language musical groups from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Soukous groups
• Musical groups established in 1956
• Musical groups disestablished in 1993
• Culture of Kinshasa

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