Remmy Ongala: Late Congolese musician who found his voice in Tanzania

When he relocated to Dar es Salaam from his native country of Zaire, he knew he was venturing into the land of honey and milk.

But he had to work hard to get them.

He came to Dar at the invitation of his uncle, who lured him to come and try his luck in a foreign country away from the already congested and competitive market of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in the fight for top honours in the music industry.

Ambition and passion to get to the top in the world of music forced the then 16-year-old Remmy Ongala to join his uncle Mzee Makasi at Orchestra Super Makassy in 1978, having earlier crafted his niche in the hands of his father, who was a traditional musician who allowed him to perform for several different bands at that tender age.

Mzee Makasi had been in Tanzania for years and was therefore well versed in music traditions there.

Mzee Makasi knew his nephew had a great passion for music and therefore, it was time for him to try his luck in Dar es Salaam, where most of it was done in Kiswahili as opposed to DRC, where they sang in French or Lingala.

As a guitarist, Ongala had to confine himself to his wooden guitar while learning Kiswahili at Orchestra Super Makassy so that he could measure up to the standard of fluent Tanzanian musicians.

And when he was well-versed in it, Ongala started composing songs in Kiswahili while building his brand and establishing himself until he made the coastal city his permanent home.

His first song was Siku Ya Kufa (The Day of Death) recorded in 1979. Back at home in Kindu (DRC), Ongala had earlier learnt the ropes of the trade from his father, and in Dar he was chasing greener pastures.

Like anywhere else in the world, to them, music was business. Ongala knew he had to compete against established outfits like DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra, Vijana Jazz led by Chiriku Maneti, Les Volcano of Charles Ray Kasembe and many more artistes in that country.

From his expertise, Ongala never stayed long with Mzee Makasi at Orchestra Super Makassy before he left to form Orchestra Super Matimila, a musical outfit named after a local businessman who assisted them in purchasing musical equipment for the band.

His music was mixed with Congolese rhumba beats, traditional Tanzanian rhythms and hints of Latin and Soul. Ongala was blessed with a distinctive voice that was rich and soulful, which soared above the rhythms of the Super Matimila melodies.

He was a composer, singer and guitarist, just like many of his compatriots in Lokassa Ya Mbongo and Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi and one of Ongala's daughters, Aziza Ongala, is proud of her father. "He did his work with great passion, and that is how he won the admiration of his fans," she told Sunday Standard from Dar es Salaam.

She said her father was a man of the people who involved himself in lots of concerts. Asked how her father earned the nickname Sura Mbaya (Ugly Face), she said besides his music career, her father also got involved in organising concerts for beauty pageants.

"He did so for so many years while getting acknowledgements from the beauty pageants who were used to my dad," said Aziza.

So, at some point, Ongala thought of doing the same to 'Ugly Men', and that's how the fallen musical legend earned the name 'Sura Mbaya', according to Aziza. "These were concerts that were full of fun," she said.

And at some point, Ongala was told on Radio Tanzania Dar Es Salaam, "I am successful in Tanzania because I write songs about serious topics... My music is known as 'ubongo beat', because in Swahili 'ubongo' means brain and my music is heavy thinking music."

His popularity was unrivalled, reaching the remotest parts of the country. His songs defended the poor and the neediest in society as they articulated the concerns of ordinary citizens, with the particular hit being Mnyonge Hana Haki.

Ongala passed away at his home in Dar es Salaam on December 13, 2010.

In his career, he visited many countries in Africa, Europe and the United States of America. He extensively toured Uganda in his early career as an itinerant musician between 1964 and 1978 and thereafter visited the United Kingdom, where he performed regularly in major shows.

Norway, Finland, and Yugoslavia formed part of the countries he toured in Europe on his international festival and concert appearances.

In his European Circuit Tour, Ongala toured Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Spain in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Born on February 10, 1947, he got married to a British teacher by the name Toni, who later became Mrs Tony Ongala after their wedding in 1979, to whom they had four children.

Aziza confirmed having two brothers and a sister. "We were born here in Dar, and my mother (Toni) really supported my father in his work," she said.

Ongala lived in a modest home in Dar es Salaam. After his death, Toni moved to Mbezi Beach from Sinza in Dar es Salaam to a totally different environment altogether.

Some of his popular hits include 'Muziki Asili Yake Wapi', 'Kipenda Roho' and 'I Want to Go Home' recorded in 1991.

However, his breakthrough came with the song 'Muziki Asili Yake Wapi' in 1989. Ongala also composed political songs like 'Mrema' praising the former Tanzanian Minister for Home Affairs Augustine Lyatonga Mrema.

In his song 'Narudi Nyumbani' in Dar es Salaam, he confesses to returning to his rural roots.

"We loved the songs by Mtoro Ongala. They were very educative, and most of them dwell on the sufferings of ordinary people in society," Mohamed Bwana said in Zanzibar last year.

Bwana is a native of Zanzibar City.

Ongala's children are Aziza Ongala, Thomas (Tom) Ongala, Jessica Ongala, alongside others like Kalimangonga (Kally), Seame, and Godfrey.

Aziza Ongala is the Founder of Ongala Music Festivals, based in the UK.

Thomas (Tom) Ongala is a musician who performs with the Ongala Classic Band, similar to Godfrey (God) Ongala.

And Jessica Ongala, the eldest daughter, is a teacher, same to Seame Ongala while Kalimangonga (Kally) Ongala is a former soccer player and coach.