It features amongst others King KESTER EMENEYA on vocals and Auguy Lutula on solo guitar. If you enjoy it - then BUY the CD - and don'f forget you'll get a free DVD with both live and playback clips - ENJOY !!!
Born Boloko Denis Manzangi in Bumba, northern DR Congo on September 17th 1950, Safroman was one of seven children raised by mother Ekutsu Sidonie. At the age of thirteen he left Bumba to further his education in Mbandaka, where he taught himself to play rhythm guitar.
In 1969, Safro moved to Kisangani, Eastern DR Congo but unable to afford to continue his education, he became a full time musician in Manchar's Air Fiesta. Over the next ten years he played in a number of high profile orchestras, playing versions of the latest Congolese hits and Western pop songs. In 1971 he settled in Uganda for six years where he played in Kaumba's Vipers, Kissa Negro and formed his own band - Safari. In 1977 he returned with his young family to Congo and joined Garcia Tokanwa's orchestra Singa Mwambe in Kisangani.
The capital city - Kinshasa - was however the heart of the countrys booming music business, and Safroman moved there to join Armando's legendary group - GO Malebo - where his work included backing Le Grand Kalle. Playing alongside Safro were some of the great musicians of DR Congo, including Andre Menge, Damoiseau, Biselenge, Zorro, Apotre, Armando Samu Bakula and others. Safroman was honing his rhythm guitar style, grounded in his traditional roots of Budja folklore music. Safro was however also greatly inspired by two master musicians, Casino of African Jazz and OK Jazz/Afrisa mi-soloist - Michelino Mavatiku.
In 1978, Safro's vocal impersonation of reggae star Jimmy Cliff attracted the attention of Gerard Kazembe, a band leader who recruited him into his Orchestra Jambo-Jambo, which provided well paid work playing to mostly white audiences. However, Safro's desire to prove himself to his Congolese peers led him to accept Papa Wemba's offer to join Viva La Musica in 1979, where he featured in a ground-breaking Kinshasa outfit during its most prolific and creative period.
Three years later, the majority of the band decided to form a breakaway group which they named Victoria Eleison. After a very bright start, power struggles soon began to undermine the group and in 1984 Safro briefly moved again to form the orchestra Veritable Victoria Principal with Huit Kilos, Tofla Kitoko, Pacho Star, Dodoli, Jarrys Fimbo, Bipoli and later Waly Ngonda. This short-lived adventure led to a brief stay with Choc Stars, before he rejoined Emeneya’s Victoria Eleison at the end of 1984.
By 1991 the old rivalries had once again re-emerged, and during a European tour Safroman decided to depart and settled in London. There he created his own group, All In One, and Safro has shown himself time and time again to be the first choice rhythm guitarist whenever any Congolese or African artists are in town.
In 1997 he released his first London based solo album WISEMAN which featured new versions of many of his biggest hits back home including Riva Dimbala, Madey, Odet'man Kassongo, Benediction (suka molongo), Ambenzo and Ata Mpiaka. Helping Safro on this new work were several of his old Victoria Eleison colleagues including Emeneya Jo Kester, Auguy Lutula, Mabusele and Santana Mongo-Ley.
High Priest Safro Manzangi Elima is unique and irreplaceable. The man who, Franco invited to lead the backing group on le Grand Maitre's classic song, Keba na S.I.D.A, is still very much in demand. As fans state, the High Priest is the complete highest artist musician.
Nick Beddow
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