Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Trio Madjesi & Orchestre Sosoliso

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Trio Madjesi
& Orchestre Sosoliso
(Congo-Kinshasa)

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Trio Madjesi was for a few years the hottest act in Zaire of the early 1970s. Madjesi, a composition of Mario Matadidi Mabele, Loko Massengo "Djeskain" and Saak "Sinatra" Sakoul, the three prominent members of the band, made a joyful mix of Zairean music and soul music in the style of the then so popular James Brown. Their costumes and appearance were James Brown-inspired and their lyrics and overall approach full of humour. Their song « Sex Madjesi », on the album « Trio Madjesi volume 1 » renamed in « Sosoliso na Sosoliso », is an excellent example of their style, with that rolling rhythm lead by the guitars, with James Brown inspired licks.

The individual members of the trio had earned their fame in other bands. Marcel Loko Massengo's career began in Jamel National, and continued through Négro Succès, Vox Africa and Orchestre Vévé. The other two members, Mario Mabele and Saak Sakoul (also written as Saak Saakul) equally left Orchestre Vévé to form Trio Madjesi. After the first years of success throughout Africa, their fame faded. There were some attempts to continue the saga, but without great success. Between 1978 and 1980, Loko Massengo was part of a trio Les Trois Frères, together with Youlou Mabiala and Boyibanda. After departure of Mabiala, he made an album with Boyibanda « Michel Boyibanda & Loko Massengo avec L'International Orchestre Rumbaya ». In recent years, Djeskain has participated in the rumba revival band Kékélé.

Trio Madjesi's song « 8me round » about a match of boxing legend Mohammed Ali in Kinshasa can be found on the compilation CD « Hits & Misses-Muhammad Ali And The Ultimate Sound », issued by Trikont in 2003.

Formed:
Style: rumba.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Sosoliso & Trio Madjesi	2005	Glenn Music	Compilation CD
Butteur	1997	Sonodisc CD36587	CD
Generation Force Unie	1993	Galadisk TMA001	CD
Le retour de Trio Madjesi	1984	SDI 114	LP
Photo Madjesi	1974	African 360 055	LP
Trio Madjesi vol. 2	1973	African 360 044	LP
Trio madjesi vol. 1	1973	African 360 043	LP
A sampler CD with some older songs from the 1970s:
Compilation Orchestres Congolo-Zaļroise (1967 / 1968 / 1970 / 1974)	1993	Sonodisc CD 36537	Compilation CD, with Trio Madjesi, Negro Succes, Kwamy & Les Bantous, Veve
Exceptionally, we list a few 45RPM singles:
Ngadiadia - Gestemany	1976	SOS 29 / African 91.221	45rpm
Il est méchant 1 & 2	197?	SOS 27 / African 90 ???	45rpm
Olingi nasomba nini / Moussa ohoto na yo	197?	SOS 24 / African 90.791	45rpm
Carte blanche 1 & 2	197?	SOS 23 / African 90 ???	45rpm
Solo albums Loko Massengo:
Tshiabuala bloque zingue	1985?	BAE 4004	LP
Mille Kilos de "Bloque Zingué"	1984	Safari Sound SAS 049	LP
Non stop Tchiabuala	1983	Safari Sound SAS 041	LP
Michel Boyibanda & Loko Massengo avec L'International Orchestre Rumbaya:
Michel Boyibanda & Loko Massengo avec L'International Orchestre Rumbaya	1981	Musiclub MC 4001 (distr. Eddyson)	LP