Continuing on with the weekly theme of Famous African Musicians, the group being highlighted today is Konono Nº1.
Konono Nº1 is a Grammy nominated musical group from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. They combine three electric likembé (a traditional instrument similar to the mbira) with voices, dancers, and percussion instruments that are made out of items salvaged from a junkyard. The group’s amplification equipment is equally rudimentary, including a microphone carved out of wood fitted with a magnet from an automobile alternator and a gigantic horn-shaped amplifier. The group achieved international renown beginning in 2005, with its DIY aesthetic appealing to many fans of rock and electronic music. They played this same year at the Eurockéennes festival in France.
The group’s full name, as seen on the banner in its music video, is L’orchestre folklorique T.P. Konono Nº1 de Mingiedi; “T.P.” (short for tout puissant, or “all powerful”) is an homage to the band of the legendary Congolese musician Franco, which was called T.P. OK Jazz. It was formed by Mawangu Mingiedi, a likembé player and truck driver now in his 70s. Mingiedi is a member of the Zombo (or Bazombo) ethnic group, whose homeland is located near the border with Angola. For his likembé ensemble, he adapted Zombo ritual music that was originally played by an ensemble of horns made from elephant tusks.
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Dates for the group’s formation vary: Crammed Discs, which released Konono Nº1’s Congotronics album in 2005, places the group’s formation in the 1960s. The group was in existence at least as early as November 1978, when an ensemble called Orchestre Tout Puissant Likembe Konono Nº1 (All-Powerful Likembe Orchestra Konono Nº1) recorded one track, “Mungua-Muanga,” for the compilation album Zaire: Musiques Urbaines a Kinshasa. The group has exerted an influence on many buy turkish viagra other Congolese popular musicians and groups.
The first time Konono Nº1 played outside of Africa was in 2003, when they toured the Netherlands with Dutch band The Ex. Since then the group has achieved some renown in North America and Europe, and has toured both places.
In 2006 the band won the Newcomer award from the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music.
The group collaborated with Björk on the song “Earth Intruders” from her studio album, Volta. They also accompanied her on her promotional tour for the album in 2007.
Konono Nº1’s album Live At Couleur Café was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008.
Konono Nº1 collaborated on “Imagine” for the 2010 Herbie Hancock album, The Imagine Project along with Seal, P!nk, India.Arie, Jeff Beck, Oumou Sangare and others. The song earned the Grammy Award for “Best Pop Collaboration”.
The group were chosen by Matt Groening to perform at the edition of the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival he curated in May 2010 in Minehead, England.
In May 2010, Crammed Discs released the fourth volume in its Congotronics series, Assume Crash Position, produced by Vincent Kenis.
In November 2010, Crammed Discs released “Tradi-Mods Vs. Rockers”, a multi-artist album containing interpretations, covers and tributes to the music of Kasai Allstars, Konono No1 and other Congotronics bands, recorded by 26 indie rock and electronic musicians.
In 2011, Konono N°1 took part in the Congotronics vs Rockers project, a “superband” including ten Congolese and ten indie rock musicians (also including members of Deerhoof, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Kasai Allstars, Skeletons and Juana Molina), who collaborated to create a common repertoire and performed at 15 major festivals and venues in ten countries.