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Global Hits
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PRI's The World, Global Hits >>
We often hear how musicians discover their calling at an early age. But today we present a musician from Angola who didn't start making music until much later in life. And when he started, he amply made up for lost time. The World's Marco Werman has today's Global Hit.
In some ways, Bonga has mellowed. But he still has the fire of an activist in his belly.
The Angolan singer's first album entitled Angola 72, recorded in 1972, was a collection of political songs. And on his latest album "Kaxexe," Bonga shows he still has that fervor.
Bonga's voice is unmistakeable. It's always sounded like this, even when he was younger.
He still performs the gently driving style known as semba. And as he explained in French, the topics he sings about haven't changed either.
In all my songs, says Bonga, I say something in regard to the Angolan people, and their future.
Bonga throws in an "etcetera" as he lists the politically conscious topics he deals with in his songs.
There's an element of ennui when he says this. But Bonga is nevertheless committed to describing for his audiences what it means to live in the shadow of colonialism.
After all, it's not even been thirty years since Angola gained independence from Portugal.
Bonga Kwenda is his full name, though he goes simply by Bonga. He was born Jose deLin Barcelo de Carvalho.
He changed his name because he says it didn't make any sense to be performing music that is so rootsy in its African-ness with a Portuguese name like that.
But there was another reason why Bonga changed his name. It has to do with his previous life, as a track and field star.
Bonga: I became Portugal's champion in the 400 meters, and I also ran the 4 by 400 meter relay. That was from 1966 to 1972. I was very competitive. That's when I was based in Lisbon.
But authorities in Portugal, still the colonial power in Angola, found out he was helping Angolan revolutionaries communicate with supporters who were exiled abroad.
De Carvalho changed his name to Bonga. He went into exile himself, in Holland.
There he was exposed to a small diaspora of Portuguese-speaking musicians, from Angola, but also from Brazil and Cape Verde.
"Angola 72" was Bonga's first album, recorded in Hollan.The songs on the ecord were so outspoken, the Angolan government banned it.
Angola became independent in 1975. Bonga was free to go back home. He believes that he greatly matured as a musician during his years in exile.
Bonga: When Angola finally gained independence, well it had been some time since I had given up sports. I had already been making music for several years. And I felt that music was much more important than sports because I had gained an understanding of life. And I was able to say things through music that I had learned.
Today, Bonga once again lives in Lisbon. It's where expats from former Portuguese colonies gravitate, especially musicians in search of well-equipped recording studios.
War has ended in Angola. But the country is still a ways away from boasting a smoothly functioning usc industry.
Bonga currently is on a short tour of North America. He has four more dates, tonight and through the weekend. Bonga's tour wraps up Monday in New York.
For The World, I'm Marco Werman.
</body</body</body 04/02/04 >> go there
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