Extra Musica on the Easter menu

Apr 12, 2001

You have heard the music, yes that song that goes like "Savulooo ooh, Savulooo ooh", now you have the opportunity to see them live on stage.

In commemoration with Kabaka Ronald Mutebi's birthday, the Congo Brazzaville group will entertain revellers over the Easter weekend, writes Harry Sagara You have heard the music, yes that song that goes like "Savulooo ooh, Savulooo ooh", now you have the opportunity to see them live on stage. Congo Brazzaville's hottest afro-beat ensemble, Extra Musica will this Easter weekend stage a couple of performances in Kampala in commemoration of Kabaka Ronnie Mutebi's birthday. According to Sheena Mukasa (of the Sabrina's fame) the group arrived by road from the neighbouring Kenya and will hold two electrifying shows at Sabrina's pub on Good Friday then proceed to Sudhir Ruparelia's Speke Resort Munyonyo for their last gig. Other local acts slated to make an appearance include Afrigo band, stone band among others. For the uninitiated, Extra Musica is a famed 18-member group that has taken afro-beat music to greater heights. They possess a powerful and irresistible swing, their songs are seasoned with intoxicating energy and they normally feature up to seven singers doing the sweet harmony. Inspired by bandleader-cum-solo-guitarist Ibambi Okombi a.k.a Roga Roga, Extra Musica went big time with their blockbuster hit, Etat Majeur and currently they have yet another hit, Shalai that might get you dancing till your bones fracture. Shalai, is the album that recently earned them an entrance into the Kora award, the 1999 best group award. They also won best group from Africa and best afro-Caribbean group at the Africa Music awards. Shalai is not only trend setting, but it also encompasses Latin and Cuban rhythms in a new way, paving a new direction for modern Congolese music. Upon initial listening, it dawns on you that this is a super-charged, high-energy album, with the Extra Musica trademark of beginning with a sluggish trend and ending with an explosive tempo. If you need a song to fire up a crowd, then Shalai will get people up and dancing till their soles wear out. Extra Musica is a youthful band that began as professional mourners in Ouenze Quarter, Brazzaville in 1993. It is common in Congo that when people die, instead of mourning, musicians are invited to uplift the sullen spirits of the bereaved families. It was from such projects that Extra Musica became a group in high demand. In 1995, they gathered in a local studio and recorded a six-track album titled, les nourvelles missiles which literally shocked Congolese fans, it had an appetising sound and commercial appeal. By April 1996, they had sold over 50,000 copies of Les Nourvelles Missiles (excluding thousands of pirated copies). In December 1997, they went ahead and released another Album titled Ouragon, however, their most successful album todate remains Etat Majeur which possess a pleasing tonal quality. It has super-arranged, almost overworked intense commercial quality and that is why you jump like a zombie when you hear the song begin. So, what about catching them live at Sabrina's pub or Speke Resort Munyonyo? Ends

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