UNITED ONE. RECORDS Distro Kuombaka

Distro Kuombaka - Toto Mitala - Argile 0694-2 MUSIC FROM ZAMBIA/KALINDULA COUNTRY. Stars in Zambia, in Holland very popular, "Distro Kuomboka" now starts to spread out to the other European countries to make them dance to their wonderful combination of relaxed Congolese Rumba with South African township Jive and Zimbabwean Chimurenga music. Named after a one-string barrel bass Zambia has a popular music of his own called Kalindula. Zambian guitar pop, the modern equivalent of Kalindulam has a sweet melancholy guitar sound and a driving rhythmbeat simular to neighbouring styles like Congolese rumba, South African township jive and Zimbabwean chimurenga music. In terms of populariy, however, Kalindula does not match up to those sounds, and so far it remains a footnote in the history fo African popular music. In the seventies the president of the country gives Zambian music a new impulse declaring that ninety percent of radio airplay has to be reserved for Zambian music and restricts radio airplay for foreign music to ten percent. As a result of his statement a new development in popular Zambian music was born. Musicians who were stimulated to update their own music started to play Zamrock, a crossover from traditional Kalindula and western popmusic. While the music scene was doing well in the eighties, high inflation and a shortage of vinyl scuppered the record market. Audio tapes became the only vailable format. However recording and distribution presented a major problem for young bands like Distro Kuomboka, who were often confined to play in hotels and beerhalls in the compounds or townships. At that time Kalindula music was updated by bands like Amayenge and Shalawamba. Distro Koumboka is a beautiful example of a contemporary Zambian band who is modernising its music by rediscovering the soul of Kalindula. With their new album Toto Mitala Distro Kuomboka gives Zambia back what it deserves, its own identity. The lyrics in different vernaculars tell us about daily problems in Zambia with a critical reference to the traditional culture. The bands history goes back to 1977 when vocalist Chali Musenge, guitarist Andy Mutafu, drummer Al Darlington Chisenge and late bass player Eziam Kombe start a band named The Destroyers. In 1979 their first single Leya was released. Since 1982 the band is working as Distro Kuomboka (meaning 'right variety sounds coming out of the water'). Their discographic line up in Zambia includes 25 Hit-singles and one album Dyonko (1990). The band is currently based in Ndola in the Copperbelt Province in Zambia, close to the southern border of Congo. Internet: www.bibiafrica.de