PRINCESS KIKOU-FRANCO & TP OK JAZZ LINGALA ENGLISH BOOK WITH SONGS TRANSLATION CALL +254722642518

François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (July 6, 1938 – October 12, 1989), popularly known as Franco, was a Congolese musician, bandleader, and composer who defined the sound of modern African music in the 20th century. Nicknamed the "Sorcerer of the Guitar" and the "Grand Maître of Zairean Music," he was the driving force behind the legendary band TPOK Jazz for over 30 years.
Early Life and Career
Background: Born in the village of Sona-Bata in the Belgian Congo (now DRC) to a railroad worker father and a mother who sold bread.
Self-Taught Roots: He began playing music on a homemade guitar to attract customers to his mother’s market stall.
Professional Debut: He was mentored by guitarist Paul Ebengo Dewayon and made his professional debut at age 12 in the band Watam.
Recording Success: By age 15, he was a regular session artist for Loningisa Studio, where he recorded early hits like "Bolingo na ngai na Beatrice" (1953).
The Era of TPOK Jazz
Formation (1956): Franco co-founded the OK Jazz band (later renamed Tout Puissant OK Jazz or "All-Powerful OK Jazz").
Musical Style: He pioneered a unique blend of Cuban rumba and traditional Congolese rhythms, often called Odemba. His music featured intricate guitar interplay, brass sections, and social commentary.
Prolific Output: Throughout his career, he released over 150 albums and composed an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 songs.
Major Hits:
"Mario" (1985): His most famous song, depicting an educated man who lives off wealthy older women.
"Attention na SIDA" (1987): One of the first major African songs to address the AIDS epidemic.
"Mamou" and "Tres Impoli": Songs that explored everyday social dynamics and etiquette.
Influence and Controversy
Politics: Franco was a "cultural revolutionary" with a complex relationship with Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko, at times praising the regime and at others using satire to critique social issues.
Imprisonment: He was jailed twice—once in 1958 for a driving offense and again in 1978 for recording lyrics deemed "indecent" by the government.
Global Recognition: In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him at number 71 on its list of the 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Death and Legacy
Franco died on October 12, 1989, in Belgium after a long illness at age 51. His body was returned to Zaire, where the government declared four days of national mourning. Today, his music is regarded as the "mother of rumba" and is recognized as part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage.