Tag Archives: congo

New Release: El Son De Congo – The Rise of Roger Izeidi: Congolese maraquero & record label pioneer

* Official release date: 6 November 2026 *


–> Pour nos lecteurs francophones: cliquez ici pour la version française de cet article <–

‘El Son de Congo’ is a new double LP compilation in our ‘Les Éditeurs Congolais’ series, focusing on the phonographic work of the first generation of Congolese record-label owners. Following a previous compilation dedicated to African Fiesta and the Vita label, Planet Ilunga turns its attention this time to two other labels managed by Roger Izeidi Mokoy also known as ‘le roi du maracas’. The compilation spans the early to mid-1960s and brings together an original selection of recordings from four different leading Congolese bands, released originally on two important Congolese music labels.

During the 1960s, Roger Izeidi was by far the most prolific entrepreneur in popular Congolese music. After Congolese independence, Izeidi successively managed the music labels Cefa, Vita, Flash, Tcheza, Paka-Siye, Hit-Parade, Otembe, and Les Artistes Réunis. He had been trained in the fifties by Bill Alexandre, the Belgian jazz player and A&R manager at Compagnie d’Enregistrement du Folklore Africain (CEFA). Together, Izeidi’s labels produced approximately 1,400 songs from the best Congolese bands at the time, spanning popular genres such as Congolese rumba, cha-cha-cha, pachanga and bolero, yet Roger Izeidi also embraced Congo’s deep folkloric music traditions as well as religious music. By carefully overseeing the labels, Roger Izeidi built a solid publishing house that would earn admiration and recognition from Kinshasa to Havana.

On this new compilation, Planet Ilunga focuses on the two labels Cefa and Tcheza, with a largely unknown and strongly Latin-tinged selection. The first side is dedicated to the Bantou Jazz series on Cefa, with songs originally recorded in November 1961 in Brussels by the iconic Congo-Brazzaville band in its formative days. Side B is reserved for the recordings of OK Jazz made in 1962–1963 in the Belgian capital for Cefa. The second disc presents an overview of the Tcheza label, active from mid-1960s through late 1960s. Planet Ilunga selected ten tracks from the two biggest bands on this label: Conga Succès and Négro Succès.

This double LP album comes with a 4-page booklet in riso print featuring the professional journey of Roger Izeidi. The heirs of Roger Izeidi kindly gave permission to release this album on Planet llunga. The album is available to order. Shipping starts today.

Release info

* double LP album with a 4-page insert in riso print: tracklist
* limited 45 rpm single available: tracklist
* liner notes in English & French
* licensed from the children of Roger Izeidi (Kinshasa/Brussels)
* numbered edition
* manufactured by Les Disques Garcia (France)
* worldwide distribution

Acknowledgements

Concept & compilation: Bart Cattaert
Notes: Max Izeidi & Bart Cattaert
Photography album & insert: courtesy of Max & Augustin Izeidi
Photography header: courtesy of Graeme Ewens (collection Bill Alexandre)
Art Direction: Fiona Oikonomidou (Heliosblue)
Proofing: Hayat Assabounti & Alastair Johnston
Audio restoration & mastering: Pieter De Wagter (EQuuS)
Lacquer cut: Michael Kuhn (Manmade Mastering)
Video editor: Konstanza Kapsali (https://konstanzakapsali.com)
Manufacturer: Les Disques Garcia (https://www.vinylegarcia.com)

My gratitude to: Max, Augustin, Annie, Martine, Cathy, Huguette, Freddy, Jolie, Nadine, Patrick, Sandrine, Sandra & Guy-Leon Izeidi, Fiona Oikonomidou, Henri Ossebi, Stefan Werdekker, Christian Van Den Broeck, David Manet, Arts-Loi, Zoi Sakka, Florent Mazzoleni, Hayat Assabounti, Alastair Johnston, Christian Ongoba, Audifax Bemba, Pieter De Wagter, Konstanza Kapsali, Louis Hautemulle, Graeme Ewens.

© 2026 Planet Ilunga
http://www.planetilunga.com
planetilunga@gmail.com

New release: Franco Luambo Makiadi Presents Les Editions Populaires

Pour nos lecteurs francophones: Cliquez ici pour la version française de cet article

After the anniversary edition about the illustrious Ngoma label, Planet Ilunga moves forward in time with its upcoming release. With the new series ‘Les éditeurs congolais’ Planet Ilunga aims to honour and highlight the phonographic and entrepreneurial work of the first Congolese record label bosses. We kick off with a compilation of one of the most significant labels, Les Editions Populaires, founded by Franco Luambo Makiadi.

‘Indépendance Cha Cha’ was an historic song, not only because it immortalized Congo’s independence in its lyrics, but also because it was the first single published by a Congolese-owned record label. Joseph Kabasele’s label Surboum African Jazz indeed paved the way for several Congolese musicians to become record publishers. It resulted in the 1960s in a plethora of newly found Kinshasa-based record labels, run by the biggest musicians of the time.

Les Editions Populaires was founded by Franco in 1968 after he first co-founded with Vicky Longomba the labels Epanza Makita (+/- 117 singles) and Boma Bango (+/- 50 singles) and after starting his first short-lived label Likembe (+/- 5 singles). It ran until 1982 and was mostly dedicated to the output of OK Jazz (later TPOK Jazz).

This compilation brings together an original selection of 16 tracks from the first three years of Les Editions Populaires. They are a showcase of the sound Franco had envisioned for his band. The focus was less on cha-cha-cha and Spanish lyrics, but on lingering rumba and bolero ballads in Lingala, tradition-rooted songs in Kikongo, Kimongo and even Yoruba, collaborations with Ngoma artists Camille Feruzi and Manuel d’Oliveira and not to forget solid pastiches of American funk, which were showing that the OK Jazz musicians had an open-minded view on music and were capable of excelling in many genres.

  • 2LP album in a trifold edition: tracklist
  • liner notes in English & French
  • made in collaboration with the estate of Franco Luambo Makiadi
  • design: Murielle Lô
  • studio engineers: Pieter De Wagter (remastering) & Michael Kuhn (lacquer cut)
  • numbered LP edition

Acknowledgements

General editor, notes & concept: Bart Cattaert
Compiled by: Hama-Dinga Ya Makilo, Stefan Werdekker & Bart Cattaert
Art Direction: Murielle Lô
Proofing: Charlotte Mavandalt, Hayat Assabounti & Alastair Johnston
Audio restoration & mastering: Pieter De Wagter (EQuuS)
Lacquer cut: Michael Kuhn (Manmade Mastering)
Manufacturer: Optimal Media in coordination with Britta Fanck (Handle With Care)

My gratitude to: Yves Luambo Emongo, Stefan Werdekker, Hama-Dinga Ya Makilo, Sylvain Konko, Murielle Lô, Clémence de Bodinat, Gary Stewart, Christian Ongoba, Baudouin Bikoko, Cindy Teme, Charlotte Mavandalt, Alastair Johnston, Hayat Assabounti, Samuel Malonga, Aaron Minnebo & Edo Bouman

Authorized by the estate of Franco Luambo Makiadi
Copyright © 2024 Planet Ilunga

** Pre-orders through our website, email or Bandcamp. Release date is Thursday 29th of February (start shipping on 21st of February) **