I would like to divide the life of excellent musician Remmy Ongala who died on Sunday night into four phases. First, his early years growing and entertaining in Kivu, Eastern Zaire where he was born on February 10th, 1947. Those grounding years included playing guitar, kit drums and saxophone. This passion for music was pushed by sadness. Both parents died when he was quite young; his father, Etiennes Kalimangonga was a percussion player while his charismatic mother, Aziza Moza Mayokei passed away in 1964 leaving the lonely boy heart broken in standard five.
The late genius musician, Rama Zani Mtoro Ongala, was a man of incredible lyrical skill...
Remmy’s actual name is Rama Zani which means “spirits are with me” in his Manyema tribe. He grew around the after effects of the turbulent years following the brutal killing of Prime Minister elect Patrice Lumumba (in 1961), the chaos of Moises Tshombe and disgraceful dictator, Joseph Mobutu, who would rule and destroy this rich country until his own death from prostate cancer in 1997.
Like millions of Congolese, Rama Zani Mtoro Ongala Mungamba’s life would see him move from place to place and eventually settling in Dar es Salaam in 1976. During this early period he married Safak and had two children, Tabu and Ngongo.
Many Congolese fled the horror of their land some finding peace in Tanzania. Nyerere’s Pan African policies proved to be a solace for musicians who found an easy and willing audience. Alongside Ongala were King Kiki (still alive), Ndala Kasheba (died 2005) and Mzee Makassy who originally brought Remmy to Dar es Salaam.
It was during this second stage of his life, that I met Remmy. He was now called Dr. Remmy, a term coined by us Uhuru journalists, due to the way he dressed (as a witchdoctor) and leading Orchestra Super Matimila. The name Matimila has a chilling significance. It belonged to the owner of the instruments and bar where Remmy worked in Ruvuma. Musicians were often employed by those with money and instruments.
By 1983 Remmy’s name was buzzing. Some called him a hooligan, others a bhang smoker; he did not care; he was a free spirited performer. Like most Congolese musicians who adopted Tanzania, Remmy sang in Swahili but took it a step higher. He commented on social issues and used local rhythms e.g. Mdundiko. I started writing and interviewing him often and eventually published a small biography about his life in 1985. Here was a man who was not just entertaining but helping shape the face of our culture and art. Ongala was now married to Toni an Irish-Israeli lady of British nationality and together they would have four children. Kali, Jessica, Aziza Machozi and Seame (pronounced Shema).
Soon Dr. Remmy would become a household name.
The third phase sees Remmy totally jellying into Tanzanian culture, creating the Bongo beat brand. One of the biggest world music companies, Real World (known as Womad) took him and he was now an international star. Many critics agree Bongo Beat was the pre creation of the now popular Bongo Flava style. Between 1988 - 1997 Ongala travelled and rocked the world. Tanzanians overseas felt proud to see a musician who represented them and made them feel inspired.
I recall attending his concert at London’s Africa Centre in 1993 and finding people of all nationalities enjoying his music while Tanzanians beamed and cheered. Yes, Ongala’s Bongo Beat meant more than music. The last gig I experienced in London was at a club in North West London where he was promoting his Sema album in late 1996. Remmy and his band members wore Learn Swahili T- shirts and he was in great spirits.
While non Swahili speaking fans loved his Bongo Beat, Soukous Afro style we who could hear his lyrics loved lyrics of Nalilia Mwana, Siku ya Kufa and a new tune warning the dangers of HIV, Mambo Kwa Soksi.
Remmy was a funny songwriter with a strong message, he made you laugh while you danced. A memorable dialogue that evening springs to mind.
Remmy: “What you say? What song you like?”
Audience: “SOCKS!”
Remmy: “Ok, give me money. Five pounds!”
His last years were spent in pain with the diabetes eating him up. In 1997 he told me he had the symptoms; that doctors had warned him to loose weight. He would in his last years shave off his Rasta hair and turn born again Christian.
Speaking to Aziza Machozi his daughter in London on Monday she said he had managed to say goodbye to his children after intense kidney problems on Sunday.
May God Rest his Soul in peace. Amen
-London, 13th December, 2010.
Citizen published this BELOW with their photograph and caption...
AND here the KISWAHILI version slightly longer and detailed:
KUMBUKUMBU YA SHOO LA MWISHO LA DOKTA REMMY ONGALA MJINI LONDON NA MAISHA YAKE...
Mara ya mwisho kuongea kirefu na mwanamuziki Remmy Ongala ilikuwa nyumbani kwake Sinza. Remmy alikuwa mcheshi, akiwafukuza mbwa wake wengi wasituume sisi wageni, huku mkewe Toni akitayarisha chakula. Enzi hizo Remmy hakuwa kakata nywele zake za Rasta wala hajageuka mlokole. Mada ilikuwa kunyang’anywa haki yake ya kusafiri nchi za kigeni baada ya kujiingiza katika ulimwengu wa vyama vya upinzani Tanzania.
“Muziki siku hizi umejaa makelele tu. Wanamuziki wa zamani kama Franco walikuwa na mafunzo. Akina Louis Amstrong and Van Morisson ukiwasikiliza kila kitu kinasikika. Vijana wa Kitanzania wangeacha kukopi kiholela na kutafiti. Muziki ni kama chupi. Ukivaa ya mtu mwingine kila mtu atajua si yako...”
Ilikuwa mwaka 1997. Mtindo wa vijana wa Bongo Fleva ndiyo ulikuwa ukianza kupaliliwa. Remmy Ongala alikuwa mwanamuziki aliyeanza kutangaza Bongo Beat, akitumia lugha iliyopendwa na kueleweka mitaani.
Miezi michache awali, mwaka 1996, nilimwona Remmy Ongala akitumbuiza hapa mjini London. Kama kawaida kila Remmy Ongala alipokuja Uingereza aliwakutanisha Watanzania. Nchi hii ndiyo makao makuu ya kampuni ya muziki ya Real World iliyomtoa katika ufukura wa Afrika na kumjenga dunia nzima. Mwanamuziki mwingine wa Kibongo aliyepewa mkataba na Real World ni hayati Hukwe Zawose, Mgogo aliyetukuza jadi, akafariki 2004.
Kutokana na mikataba hii leo ukibofya majina ya wasanii hawa mtandaoni, utawakuta wakipepea bendera ya Tanzania.
Shoo lake la mwisho nililoliona mjini London lilipendeza kwa waliopenda kucheza Bongo Beat ; wakinyonga viuno na kuvutiwa na mahadhi ya midundo ya Kiafrika. Ila kwa wale tulioongea Kiswahili tulifurahishwa na nyimbo zake za kuchekesha zilizojaa ujumbe mzito. Ujumbe uliotetea walalahoi na mambo ambayo wengi huogopa kuyasema kama kutojiamini kwa kuwa eti mtu umezaliwa na sura mbaya, kifo, mapenzi ya kweli na kadhalika. Kipindi hicho kilikuwa kilele cha maradhi ya UKIMWI na kibao chake, Mambo Kwa Soksi, kilikuwa kilingeni. Mwisho wa shoo alipotangaza sasa kwaheri, watazamaji tukalalamika. Akatutania kwa Kiingereza:
Remmy: “Nataka wageni wote mjifunze Kiswahili kusudi tuwasiliane vizuri!”
Vicheko.
Remmy: “Mnasemaje? Niwaimbie wimbo gani?”
Watazamaji: “Soksi!”
Remmy: “Nipeni hela! Paundi tano!”
Hizo ni kama shilingi elfu kumi.
Vicheko vikasikika klabu ile ya kitongoji cha Kilburn, kaskazini magharibi ya London, vikishangilia wimbo wa Mambo Kwa Soksi. Baadaye nilipoongea na wanamuziki katika bendi ya Orchestra Super Matimila walinieleza walivyoshazunguka karibu dunia nzima . Walivalia fulana za Jifunze Kiswahili (Learn Swahili); kila mmoja akisema zito kuhusu kiongozi wao.
Ayasi Hassan, mpiga gitaa.
“Remi anaisaidia familia yangu. Hii ni ajira. Niko naye toka 1987...”
Wanamuziki wengine aliokuja nao miaka ya nyuma Majuu wameshahamia wanaishi huku, mathalan, mpiga ngoma maarufu wa Kitanzania, Saidi Kanda na Kawele Mutimanwa, gwiji mashuhuri wa gitaa hapa London. Wote wawili wamesikitikia kifo chake. Saidi Kanda keshawahi kuzawadiwa kuwa Mpiga Ngoma wa Mwaka na kampuni ya Real World mwaka 1989. Mutimanwa ambaye kakatiwa jina la “Fingerprinter” kutokana na ufundi wake wa nyuzi, kazungunzumzia kufanya maonyesho kumkumbuka Remmy Ongala. Hawa si wasanii baki.
Remmy alikuwa pia na zuri la kusemwa na Wazungu waliomhusudu hata bila kuelewa anaimba nini. Mwingereza Andy Dobson alikiri kaona zaidi ya maonyesho ishirini ya Remmy. “Anafanya vizuri kuleta utamaduni na mtindo halisi wa Kiafrika kwa watu wasioujua,” alinieleza usiku huo.
Wengine walimgombania. Mwaka 1997 runinga ya Channel Four hapa London ilitoa sinema aliyofanyiwa Remmy na Msweden mmoja. Nilipomwandikia jamaa kutaka tushirikiane kufanya mambo mengine alibana kimya. Hali hiyo ya uchoyo na wivu imekuwa kwa waandishi wengi wa habari ugenini ambao walimpigania kipaparazi kama almasi.
Watanzania wengi wanaoishi bara Ulaya pia walijaa mazuri ya kusema miaka hiyo ya 1996-97.
Mhandisi, mwanasayansi na mwalimu wa Kiswahili aliyeishi Ujerumani (ambaye siku hizi karudi nyumbani Mwanza), Richard Madete:
“Huyu bwana kahamia kwetu toka Zaire. Kaja hapa kajifunza Kiswahili vizuri; anatuletea sifa na kujenga jina la Wabongo duniani! Bahati mbaya tutakuja kuujua umaana wake Remmy Ongala miaka mingi baada ya yeye kufariki!”
Kifupi onyesho la mwisho la Dokta Remmy Ongala mjini London lilinidhihirishia alivyojijenga vizuri kwa watu wa aina zote.
Hicho kilikuwa kipindi cha juu katika maisha ya msanii huyu aliyezaliwa jimbo la Kivu mashariki ya Congo tarehe 10 Februari, 1947. Wazazi wake , Mzee Etiennes Kalimangonga na mamake Aziza Moza Mayokei walifariki mapema wakamwacha kijana wao yatima akiwa bado darasa la tano mwaka 1964. Kuanzia hapo akawa anapiga muziki kuikomboa huzuni na upweke.
Miaka hiyo ilikuwa mikatili kwa Wakongo. Baada ya Waziri Mkuu Mteule, Patrice Lumumba kuuawa kikatili na majasusi wa CIA wakishirikiana na Wabeljiji na askari walafi, nchi hii yenye utajiri mkubwa wa madini iligeuzwa jehanam. Mwaka 1965 Jenerali Joseph Mobutu alitwaa madaraka na kuanzia hapo hadi alipofariki 1997, Wakongo wamelazimika kuzagaa dunia nzima. Mwaka 1976 Remmy Ongala alihamia Tanzania, alipoanza kipindi kipya akitumbuiza na bendi ya Makassy.
Hatimaye Remmy aliunda bendi ya Orchestra Super Matimila iliyokuwa na makao makuu Ruvuma.
Ni wakati akianza kuvuma mwaka 1982-83 ndipo nilipoanza kumwandika magazetini. Jina la Dokta Remi liliundwa na sisi waandishi wa Uhuru kutokana na alivyovaa kama mchawi. Wakati huo hakuwa akipendwa au kueleweka kwa wengi kama miaka kumi baadaye. Aliitwa muuza bangi, mwenda wazimu kutokana na maguo ya kiasili jukwaani, nywele za Rasta na maneno ya nyimbo zake. Alipiga pia klabu za walala hoi katika mitaa iliyokuwa na fujo kama Buguruni.
Mwaka 1985 nilitoa kitabu kuhusu maisha yake. Mwenzangu hayati Ben Mtobwa naye aliandika Remmy Ongala, Bob Marley wa Tanzania. Wazungu ndiyo sasa wakaanza kumtafuta na hatimaye akapata mkataba na Real World.
Juzi Jumatatu nilipoongea na mmoja wa wanae anayeishi hapa, Aziza Machozi aliongea kwa heshima na ufasaha kama ule wa babake. Remmy kaacha watoto na wajukuu. Tabu na Ngongo walizaliwa na mke wa kwanza Safak, kwao Congo. Wengine wanne, Kali, Jessica, Aziza na Shema (Seame) alizaa na mkewe Toni mwenye asili ya Kiyahudi na Kiingereza. Mungu aiweke roho yake pema peponi, Amina.
London, Jumatatu, 13 Desemba, 2010.
Mwananchi Newspaper published it a different headline:
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