INGOMA THE BIRTH OF A MUSICAL JOURNEY

INGOMA TAKES OVER

From Burundi to Kenya, Cameroon to Zimbabwe, Uganda to South Africa, the Bantu people know the word Ingoma to mean music by the drum. Truth be told, the drum is the most outstanding instrument in the music created by great music maestros of Africa. As the drum travels fro Africa to other parts of the world it is important that the music is preserved and there’s a high regard to the origins of the drum – Africa. Here at Ingoma Talent Management we celebrate the importance of this instrument in our music through giving musicians the most needed care.

Over the last few years, there has been an upsurge of African music talent that is shining throughout the globe and finally African artists are beginning to earn the respect they dully deserve. The world is now exposed to our Benga sounds vibrating from the shores of Kisumu, Mbaqanga from the Southern parts of Africa has now become popular through artists such as Oliver Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe. Lingala which is a mixture of zouk and African sounds has become a favorite all over the globe with many star globe trotting around the world. Africa musicians have earned their stripes.

In the near future there will be a scramble for African music and there’s a foreseeable battle for who will own the music of Africa - Ngoma za Wafrika. This was already demonstrated when multi-million selling Colombian artist Shakira did a rendition of an African Waka Waka for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. There was a major cry from Africans claiming that Shakira should have reached to the Cameroonian group Zangalewa to get rights for the song but that is exactly where the problem stems from. Did they really own the song? Ngoma za Afrika need to be documented and protected.

Here at Ingoma Talent Management we endeavor to do just that – to document, to showcase and to protect Ngoma za Afrika so if you ever hear your favorite African tune redone by an international star in future rest well assured that the songwriter has been dully compensated and there is a balanced benefit to all parties involved. So as we embark on the year 2011 the year of elevation, we want to elevate our artists so that it is not just about the music anymore, it is not all about just the talent anymore but its about everything else that comes with it.

Ingoma Talent Management brings you some of the freshest artists that you have had the pleasure listening to recently. We will be bringing you events, updates and on goings of artists around Africa. We go deep into the continent and bring out a son of Burundi - Nimbona Jean Pierre better known as Kidum the most sought after song writer and performer. Then we have the Crown Prince of Benga - Dan Aceda who is now a major name on the performance circuit in Kenya. Others are Habida, Nameless, New York native Denise Gordon. Keep it here for much more. It’s Ingoma Time.
By Moses Mbasu

IngomaSoul