Symphony Orchestra in the Congo! Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste

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Posted by Lawrence Morgan August 23, 2012 at 12:50 a.m.

Poster Kinshasa Symphony by Lawrence Morgan

A symphony orchestra in Central Africa

This is the first symphony orchestra of Central Africa, and one of the few in Africa.

People have had to make many of their musical instruments almost from scratch. Some people have to walk an hour and a half to get to their practice hall each day. Life is very difficult for most of these people, yet somehow they make it to the practice hall, learn their parts and symphonic music results!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7417924n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Below are videos which show their level of performance..

http://www.cbsnews.com/8334-504803_162-57410254-10391709/soaring-songs-from-an-orchestra-youll-never-forget/?tag=contentBody;currentVideoInfo

For life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the work these people display is extraordinary. Most Americans would never put this much effort into going somewhere to try to play classical music, especially if it involves walking all the way there and back.

You may want to take a look at Wikipedia, under Kinshasa, for much more detail about Kinshasa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa now has an urban population with over 9 million inhabitants. It is the second largest city in sub-Saharan Africa and it is also the second largest francophone urban area in the world after Paris. Lingala, Kokongo, Tshiluba or Swahili are used as the major street languages, while French is used for public services, newspapers, schools and governmental services.

Kinshasa will surpass Paris in population around 2020. It will also be the site of the 14th Francophonie Summit in October 2012. Kinshasa residents are known as Kinois.

This Spiegel article (a major business magazine of Germany) goes into more detail about the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/central-africa-s-only-orchestra-playing-beethoven-in-kinshasa-a-719276.html

And here is part two:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/central-africa-s-only-orchestra-playing-beethoven-in-kinshasa-a-719276-2.html

http://www.kinshasa-symphony.com/index.php?id=43

German television has shown a new film on the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste. DVDs are available in this country.

http://www.kinshasa-symphony.com/

I would also like to share with you one selection of Music Kimbanguiste, also from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is a large African church which has centers throughout Central Africa. No matter what your approach is in terms of religion, the music of this church is fascinating. In the final selection, you will hear "Remember Kimba," which refers to Simon Kimbangu. See if you like it as much as I do.

The following are pictures of Kinshasha. The first is of the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in Kinshasha.

Wikipedia commons photograph by Lawrence Morgan

Lola ya Bonobo, located right outside of Kinshasa, is a world sanctuary for orphaned bonobos. Loya ya Bonobo means "paradise for bonobos" in Linglala.

Below is are two pictures of Kinshasha, from which this and much more music comes - from all of Francophone Africa. Later on, I will choose other countries (French, English, Portuguese) in Africa for their musicians and songs.

Film Kinshasha Symphony by Lawrence Morgan

Below is the boat between Kinshasha and Kisangani.

Congo Planet photograph by Lawrence Morgan

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marsia 8 months, 3 weeks ago

So exquisite! It brought tears to my eyes watching their faces glow with joy and accomplishment. You know, during the cold war, young musicians did music exchanges in the opposing countries and it brought cultures together. I think art draws people together in a way that nothing else can, especially music!

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