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The official "Polio" anthem. Created by the SBB. A song to incitate all the parents to get their babies vaccinated against a cruel disease...
Staff Benda Bilili are like nothing you have ever seen or heard before. A group of paraplegic street musicians who live in and around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, Congo, they make music of astonishing power and beauty. The band's mesmerising rumba-rooted grooves, overlaid with vibrant vocals, remind you at times of Cuban nonchalance, at other times of the Godfather of Soul himself. You can hear echoes of old-school rhythm and blues, then reggae, then no-holds barred funk.
Four senior singer/guitarists sitting on spectacularly customized tricycles, occasionally dancing on the floor of the stage, arms raised in joyful supplication, are the core of the band, backed by a younger, all-acoustic, rhythm section pounding out tight beats. Over the top of this are weird, infectious guitar-like solos performed by young Roger Landu, (an ex-street kid the band took under their wing), who plays a one-string electric lute he designed and built himself out of a tin can.
The lyrics of the Staff Benda Bilili are wise, ironical advice to the people who
live in the streets. In Lingala, "Benda Billi" means "look beyond appearances".
Entitled "Très Très Fort" ('Very Very Strong'... or 'Very Very Loud'), their first album was produced by Vincent Kenis (already responsible for introducing and producing Konono N°1, Kasaï Allstars and the Congotronics series). The songs were recorded out in the open, mainly in the zoological garden near centre ville. The album is being released in Feb/March 2009.
The physical version of the album contains video bonuses directed by Belle Kinoise aka Florent de la Tullaye and Renaud Barret, who discovered the band while they were filming their "Jupiter's Dance" documentary in Kinshasa. Florent and Renaud have been documenting the story of the band since 2004, and are working on a feature-length film devoted to the life of Staff Benda Bilili, from the sidewalks of Kinshasa to their (upcoming) first concerts in Europe.
Bonjour Wonderful ones!!! and thank you again!!!!! Voici la vidéo de cette merveilleuse soirée. A bientôt NA LINGUI YO ONE LOVE Chris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHKk01cvd8o
Concert au Pavillon Les Cinémas du Monde A l'occasion du 63e Festival du Film de Cannes ♥ A magical night A beautiful lesson of LIFE ...HOPE and MUSIC♥ MERCI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi... Hope you like our music... Thanks for the friendship... Hope we meet you soon... Maybe on the road... We are on Tour across Europe... All the best for you... Cheers from Portugal... a Jigsaw...
Hey Your track “Marguerite” features on my show on Dandelion Radio.... ....the show broadcasts for the whole of February as part of a schedule of DJ shows.... :-) www.dandelionradio.com - The online radio station inspired by John Peel
We're a European citizen media published in Paris and Warsaw, online in six different languages simultaneously. We thoroughly enjoyed your show in Paris - read it here below in English and watch this space for the article in French, German, Polish, Spanish and Italian!
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