République du Zaïre (Kwamy) - Franco & L'O.K. Jazz 1970

Описание: Re-up: HQ, cleaner version.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not a Franco composition. The government paid for this recording, so I used money to illustrate the developements since then. We hear Franco (guitar, vocal), Kwamy (vocal), Simaro (guitar), Bitshou (bass), Ntoya (maracas) and Dessoin (percussion).

Simaro tells us more on the relationship between Franco and Mobutu on:
http://afropop.org/multi/interview/ID... (The link has expired)
(:I will tell you a little about the person who was Mobutu. He was a fanatic for Franco, above everything. He was a fanatic for our team, even before he was president. I found Mobutu at Franco's side when I came in 1961. At all the parties that happened at Mobutu's home, when they hired a band, it was we who played. Baptisms of children, birthdays, all that. Mobutu was a fanatic for Franco as an artist.

It was Mobutu who chose, frankly. When Mobutu rose to power, it was 1965. In '66, we were in Brazza, making a little tour, and Mobutu asked Franco and his band to come back to Kinshasa to play. So we stopped and went back directly with Franco to Ndolo. Ndolo was a small prison in town that was reserved for the military. After a day or two, we went to Franco. The president had told him to stay at his side. "With me in power, you will go far. I will have need of you." So that's how it started. In any case, as I said, as far as the relationship between President Mobutu and Franco, from the start, Mobutu was a fanatic for Franco. And with time, as he became president, he was president of all the artists, not just Franco. Those who were lucky enough to play for President Mobutu received his small gifts that the president gave them. It was not only Franco.

So, when President Mobutu had need of a little publicity, or even propaganda, he would call Franco secretly. But he gave opportunities to many artists. It was Mobutu who decided. He had a whole community. "We'll do it like this. He will speak and tell people to listen. Simaro will make a song. Another will make a song. We'll record them and I'll listen and decide which is the best song." That's how it worked.

When Franco was very sick, near the end, Mobutu did something for him. Even when he was dead, the band found him in Europe, and President Mobutu paid all the bills, the hotels and everything. He asked all the artists to return. He sent a special plane that brought the body")

Translation [A million thanks to @Realdeep_quotes]:

1.

Morning has come, brothers and sisters, the sun has risen 
Night has passed, brothers and sisters, let Mobutu reflect 
What will he think about? 
About the heritage left by the ancestors. 

Morning has come, brothers and sisters, Mobutu has called his friends
He said: we must seek authenticité (our true identity), 
It is proper to follow the ways of our ancestors. 
Let us restore the name Zaïre, the name our ancestors left us.

2.

The river has regained the name Zaïre, the country is the Republic of Zaïre. 
Province of Upper Zaïre, Province of Lower Zaïre. 

 The flag we also changed, the national anthem we also changed. 
See now Mobutu’s ideas, that is why he called his companions. 
Oh brothers and sisters, Mobutu the reformer. 
Oh brothers and sisters, Mobutu the thinker.

3.

The country’s name is Zaïre, MPR (Popular Movement of the Revolution) is the name of the Revolution. 
The name of the ancestors has returned, Mobutu worked hard to restore it. 
Zairian women and men, stand, rejoice, shout and sing! 

See the ideas of the thinker whom we chose. 
Concerning the land, brothers and sisters, it is fitting that it bears the name Mobutu has restored. 
On the 24th (24 November 1965) problems were settled, on the 27th (27 October 1971) a historic date was born.

4.

Each person builds, the ancestors built and left it. 
All of us, with raised hands, let us give Mobutu applause, 
All of us, with raised hands, let us give Mobutu applause. 

The Zaïre River starts in Katanga, Kivu and Upper Zaïre, 
Équateur passes into Bandundu, Bandundu flows into Kinshasa, 
Kinshasa pours into Lower Zaïre, and Lower Zaïre reaches the sea.

Refrain 
 Oh Zaïre, the land where I was born. 
Oh Zaïre, the land where I grew up. 
Oh Zaïre, a beautiful land like you! 
We feel your sweetness, you are the land where we were born.

5.

We feel your sweetness, because you gave birth to Kinkole. 
We feel your sweetness, because you gave birth to Nsele. 
We feel your sweetness, because you gave birth to Kilomoto. 

We feel your sweetness, because you gave birth to the Grand Tam-Tam of Africa. 
We feel your sweetness, because you gave birth to the Hospital Ship. 
We feel your sweetness, because you gave birth to Inga (the dam). 
Above all, we feel your sweetness, because you gave us Mobutu.

Refrain (repeated) 
Oh Zaïre, the land where I was born. 
Oh Zaïre, the land where I grew up. 
Oh Zaïre, a beautiful land like you! 
We feel your sweetness, you are the land where we were born. 

 !!! Zaïre, beautiful country!
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