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about
I dedicate this track to my friend and brother Patrice Oluma.
Patrice Oluma
Born 12.04.1946 in Goma/Zaire - died at 13.08.1999 in Munich/Germany
After his father had been killed for being on Lumumba’s side, Patrice left his homeland at the age of 14 years, during the civil war, and went to Uganda.
The following years he spent as a singer, conga player and percussionist working with various bands in Tansania, Uganda, Ruanda, Zambia und Kenya.
1968 he founded with some friends in Nairobi/Kenya the band AIR FIESTA
which played modern african music and later changed their name into MATATA
The successful 12-piece-group became the resident band at the Starlight Club/Nairobi and in 1971 they won the BBC African Service Sound Competition.
1972 the BBC brought MATATA to London.
They played at clubs like Ronnie Scott’s and The Marquee and recorded their first LP “Matata“ for President Records.
The single “Wanna do my thing“ became a Top Ten hit.
MATATA went on tour through Great Britain, Germany, and Switzerland.
Finally they got a 6 month engagement in Hongkong.
Back in London they recorded their second LP “Independence".
In 1975 the group split.
Patrice Oluma stayed in London and worked with different formations like “Steel and Skin“ and a socially engaged music theatre group.
1977 Patrice and his german wife Christa, whom he had met in London, moved to Munich, Germany where he was working as a conga player for some years with various bands of different styles.
1982 he and his friend Juanito Heldmann decided to reactivate MATATA together with some musicians of different nationalities.
They developed a mixture of afro-beat and pop, which soon found it's own audience and toured Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
With their repertoire of traditional material and Patrice's and Juanito's compositions, MATATA was a real live-band.
The only release in this time was the single “Mbongo“ (President Records).
1984 the group split again and Patrice joined Juanito's band KARIBA.
Patrice Oluma and his music expressed joy of life, enthusiasm, motion, energy and power.
lyrics
OLUMA
(music & lyrics: Juanito Heldmann)
Let me tell you ’bout a man - who was a brother of mine
He was born in the Congo – deep in the heart of Africa
His father was killed by the Belgium secret service
For being a friend of Lumumba, who was strugelin’ for the people
Oh, Oluma, when I hear wind in the tree
Oh, Oluma, your spirit is here with me
Oh, Oluma, your drums are still callin’ me
Oh, Oluma, I know your soul is free
So my brother ran away - headin’ to the east
Singing’ and playin’ congas, now became his life
When he arrived in Kenya, he joined the group MATATA
They travelled around the world, but stranded In London
Oh, Oluma, when I hear wind in the tree
Oh, Oluma, your spirit is here with me
Oh, Oluma, your drums are still callin’ me
Oh, Oluma, I know your soul is free
In London they were abused by the music industry
So the band was forced to quit and each one went hides own way
Oluma and his lady, they headed for her homeland
That’s how he came to Germany and we became close friends.
Oh, Oluma, when I hear wind in the tree
Oh, Oluma, your spirit is here with me
Oh, Oluma, your drums are still callin’ me
Oh, Oluma, I know your soul is free.
Yes, I left Zaire during the war. A lot of people got killed,
including some of my family. And that time, it was fire everywhere.
Everyone, especially in that city, who were the follower of Patrice
Lumumba - and everyone who was suspected to be the follower
he was also followed by the other party - and chased away and
sometimes shot.
That time if only they knew which family is for what -
it had to be liquidated.
Patrice Lumumba, he was for the people; I would say he was for the country.
And the other side, they were only for making money. There the Belgiums
and some Americans.
That time everyone who was suspected on the side of Lumumba -
he was a communist.
Actually I have nothing against the American people,
but I’m against their method. Because their method is
you have to do what they want. If you are not willing to do it,
you are the communist and when you are a communist
you have no right to live!
credits
released April 11, 2024
lead vocals, rhythm guitar & programming: Juanito Heldmann;
second rhythm guitar, lead guitar & programming: Martin Finsterlin;
backing vocals: Yeni Toro;
spoken words: Patrice Oluma
Juanito Heldmann aka Juan del Guro
composer/writer, singer & multi-instrumentalist
Worked as an
artist and as a teacher all over Europe, on Canary Islands and in Cuba.
Since 1981 he is leading his group KARIBA and since 2000 Juanito’s KARIBA All Stars.
This is an international project with members from all over the planet....more
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