🎸🎤🌃🌍🔥 In 1989, Syllart Production asked Zairean guitarist and arranger Lokassa Ya Mbongo to put together a Congolese all-star band to ride the wave of soukous. The group was put together with the fingers and voices of Ballou Canta, Zitany Neil, Dally Kimoko, Shimita and Denise Yondo Kusala. Suffice to say, we’re in good hands. As for the tracklist, this Megamix doesn’t disappoint, but it doesn’t delve into the repertoire of the hits of the moment. Two unstoppable medleys fill each side. The first, composed entirely by Lokassa, is dedicated to the Kenyan night – Nairobi Night. The real bravura piece is on side B. Once the intro is over, all Prince Nico Mbarga’s old hits follow, starting of course with the inevitable Sweet Mother. This Lagos Night, where the highlife takes on downright soukous colours, has become almost as famous as the original versions, but Vol. 1 was a long-lived one and was never followed by any successors. And you can’t miss the cover photo, which brilliantly celebrates Congolese sape, and perfectly illustrates the hype around Kin and Brazza at the time.
Mégamix Vol.1 – Lokassa & Soukous Stars, 1989
