Franco Pepe Kalle

23 years ago on October 12, Franco passed away. He was 51 years old. Here is a song that shows the greatness of Franco

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The problem with Franco Pepe Kalle is that he is a unpredictable character. There is surprising info about this man. You think he only likes Franco and Pepe Kalle but when you find out that he hears other artists, you are shock.

Girls are the sexy thing that God created.

Important to notice FPK.

VEGANGELICA

I listened to Franco & OK Jazz' song "Azda" and enjoyed it! All his songs sound very celebratory. This one reminded me of Mexican Mariachi band music:


Franco & le TP OK Jazz - "Azda" - YouTube

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^ I know "Pata Pata" well from my childhood international dancing days. It was very popular in the '70s in international dancing circles in the U.S. and actually I last danced to the song just a couple years ago! (Pepe, I recommend that you include the title of the song in your posts so that people will know the songs you are referring to in case the YouTube videos go inactive.)

Say, have you noticed that almost all the African songs in your thread are sung by men? Is Miriam Makeba one of the few famous African female singers from a generation or two ago?

I was reading about her Miriam Makeba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and thinking what a wonderful life she led. I like how she used her music to contribute to her work as a civil rights activist, right to the very end.

Did you know that she died after singing "Pata Pata" in 2008 at an Italian concert organized to oppose a mafia-like organization? "Makeba suffered a heart attack after singing her hit song 'Pata Pata,' and was taken to the clinic where doctors were unable to revive her." She died while participating in peaceful, musical support of human rights. That's not a bad way to go, considering the other options.

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I guess that *is* kind of a song about women's rights, since the basis of women's rights is recognizing that women have the right to control their own lives and lead better ones according to their own choosing.

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I was in Tanzania and Kenya for a month twenty years ago and learned a little Swahili. I didn't realize Pepe Kalle was singing in Swahili, though. That will help with translating lyrics.

My memories of Africa include seeing banana peels alongside the roads and women in colorful kangas; meeting very friendly and welcoming neighbors; sitting in crowded busses bouncing over bumpy roads; and drinking lots of hot tea (with iodine). Plus, I recall the sound of strange frogs chirping at night close to Mt. Kilimanjaro. I wish I could see more of Africa, and I probably won't, but I'm glad I got to visit for a month. Your thread helps bring the continent a little closer!

One reason I'm interested in the African music in your thread is that I wrote a song about Africa several years ago ( http://www.musicbanter.com/song-writ...tml#post693837 ) but have yet to record it because I wasn't completely sure about the instrumentals I wanted to use. I think that hearing the music in your thread will inspire me.

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Franco Pepe Kalle

VEGANGELICA,

You have a very interesting analysis. Well I can tell you that It is not just Kenya and Tanzania that speak Swahili. In Eastern part of Congo, Swahili is very much spoken in that area. My parents were born in the East Congo region. So they know swahili very well especially my mother.

Franco was making a point that a woman is a human being. Franco is saying that a woman has a right to choose to be with a man, or leave the man. I like that and that is part of why I am a major fan of Franco.

Pepe Kalle has a great voice and he knew how to English a bit. He mainly knew French and Lingala but he could also speak Swahili and Tshiluba. He was such a genius musician. He had a great voice. I wish he was alive today.

As for the gender thing, well here is a little known fact: Most African musicians tend to be Male even today. Now because almost all the songs are done by men, does it mean I only like male voices. I may favor male voices but that is when comes to African music. When it comes to American music, I tend to favor female singers more than male although there are lots of great male voices.

However I will try to find some good African songs by female. Unfortunately there is few female singers in the African music scene. I will soon post one song from a female this week.

Sincerely,

Franco Pepe Kalle

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The problem with Franco Pepe Kalle is that he is a unpredictable character. There is surprising info about this man. You think he only likes Franco and Pepe Kalle but when you find out that he hears other artists, you are shock.

Girls are the sexy thing that God created.

Important to notice FPK.

VEGANGELICA

Habari yako, Franco Pepe Kalle!

I didn't realize Swahili is also spoken in Congo. I looked on Wikipedia and found out that "Swahili serves as a national, or official language, of five nations: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, the Comoros and the Democratic Republic of the Congo." You are fortunate, Pepe, to have the influence of your parents' heritage and multiple languages in your life.

Franco's message of freedom and self-determination is wonderful.

I'm thinking that Pepe Kalle's limited knowledge of English may have also limited the popularity of his music outside Africa?

I didn't know that most African musicians tend to be male even today, although I would imagine so because I think the separation between gender roles tends to be greater in Africa than in the U.S., for example.

Your post made me realize that I don't know of *any* female African singers besides Miriam Makeba. I'm curious which female African musician you will feature. I did a little online sleuthing and found out that two other famous (older) female African singers are Nayanka Bell and ...

Yvonne Chaka Chaka -- here singing the catchy song "Let Me Be Free"
She has a lovely, strong voice.


Yvonne Chaka Chaka - Let Me Be Free - YouTube

Regards,

VEGANGELICA

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Franco Pepe Kalle

One of the best OK Jazz songs

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The problem with Franco Pepe Kalle is that he is a unpredictable character. There is surprising info about this man. You think he only likes Franco and Pepe Kalle but when you find out that he hears other artists, you are shock.

Girls are the sexy thing that God created.

Important to notice FPK.

Franco Pepe Kalle

I found a beautiful song from a Female singer name Barbara Kanam. She has a sexy voice. Yum, her voice is smokin. Check this beautiful song. I love it.

VEGANGELICA, you need to hear this song.

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The problem with Franco Pepe Kalle is that he is a unpredictable character. There is surprising info about this man. You think he only likes Franco and Pepe Kalle but when you find out that he hears other artists, you are shock.

Girls are the sexy thing that God created.

Important to notice FPK.

VEGANGELICA

^ Very seductive and happy-sounding, Pepe!

I was struck by how many syllables and consonants the words have in the language she is singing, which gives the song an energetic, bouncy feel. (I also hear some gentler French words incorporated into the song.)

This made me think about how some languages may naturally be better suited for singing relaxing, languid songs, and other languages may be better suited for peppy, energetic songs.

Thanks for finding a song by a woman like you said you would!

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Franco Pepe Kalle

Beautiful tone song from Mr. Youlou Mabiala

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The problem with Franco Pepe Kalle is that he is a unpredictable character. There is surprising info about this man. You think he only likes Franco and Pepe Kalle but when you find out that he hears other artists, you are shock.

Girls are the sexy thing that God created.

Important to notice FPK.

Franco Pepe Kalle

Josky released a masterpiece in 1991 of a LP called SERRER SERRER. It was a great work. I will give three of the great songs

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The problem with Franco Pepe Kalle is that he is a unpredictable character. There is surprising info about this man. You think he only likes Franco and Pepe Kalle but when you find out that he hears other artists, you are shock.

Girls are the sexy thing that God created.

Important to notice FPK.

Franco Pepe Kalle

A good ndombolo from Daniel Aziwa. Interesting Generique

__________________
The problem with Franco Pepe Kalle is that he is a unpredictable character. There is surprising info about this man. You think he only likes Franco and Pepe Kalle but when you find out that he hears other artists, you are shock.

Girls are the sexy thing that God created.

Important to notice FPK.