Table Ronde
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"Table Ronde" was a successful song written by Joseph Kabasele in the popular African Rumba style and performed by his band L'African Jazz. It was written for the Round Table Conference on Congolese independence held in Brussels, Belgium in 1960 which gave the song its name.
History
In December 1959 it was announced that a round table conference would be held in Brussels, Belgium in 1960 to discuss the future of the Belgian Congo. Joseph Kabasele's L'African Jazz and OK Jazz were both invited to perform at the event. Only two musicians from OK Jazz were able to attend, so they briefly performed with L'African Jazz. Kabasele took part in the conference, and collaborated with his musicians to produce some songs to commemorate the event. The most notable of these were "Table Ronde" and "Indépendance Cha Cha". While "Indépendance Cha Cha" was celebratory, "Table Ronde" was more assertive for the cause of Congolese independence.[1] During the conference the group recorded the songs (along with a composition by OK Jazz vocalist Victor Longomba, "Vive Patrice Lumumba") in a His Master's Voice–affiliated studio. The record label wasn't interested in the recordings, so Kabasele showed the masters to various other companies before reaching an agreement with Fonior.[2]
Impact and legacy
Musician Gilles Sala later said that Table Ronde and the other songs released with it "sent a musical shock wave. It was pretty extraordinary, this spontaneous, natural music."[2]
Table Ronde is performed in one of the scenes of the 2000 film Lumumba, directed by Raoul Peck.
References
- ^ Millward, Steve (2012). Changing Times: Music and Politics in 1964. Troubador Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781780887333.
In December 1959 it was announced that a conference of Congolese and Belgian leaders was to be held in Brussels on 20 January of the following year to accelerate progress towards independence. Both African Jazz and OK Jazz were invited to play at the Round Table Conference. Franco couldn't make it but he allowed two members of his band, bass player Brazzos and vocalist Victor 'Vicky' Longomba, to join Kabasele's group, which by then consisted of Nico, Dechaud, Izeidi and drummer Pierre 'Pierrot' Yantula. Kabasele himself participated in negotiations and worked with his musicians to write and record two songs to celebrate the conference – the aforementioned 'Table Ronde' and 'Indépendance Cha Cha'. Where the former had been assertive, almost aggressive, the latter was jubilant.
- ^ a b Stewart, Gary (2003). Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos (illustrated ed.). Verso. p. 86. ISBN 9781859843680.