{"id":107433,"date":"2022-05-24T15:39:15","date_gmt":"2022-05-24T13:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/franco-kinsiona-bavon-marie-marie\/"},"modified":"2022-05-24T15:39:47","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T13:39:47","slug":"franco-kinsiona-bavon-marie-marie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/franco-kinsiona-bavon-marie-marie\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cKinsiona\u201d: when Franco cried over his great little brother"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In August 1970, Franco&#8217;s younger brother, Bavon Marie-Marie, passed away under tragic circumstances. As an epitaph, the Grand Master paid tribute with one of his most beautiful songs, &#8220;Kinsiona&#8221; (Sorrow).<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Bavon Marie-Marie Siongo traversed Congolese music history at full throttle. In the span of only twenty-six years a lot of things happened: he matured, made himself a name despite being in the shadow of a very famous elderly brother, and posthumously became a musical icon amongst the souls who lit up the skies in the 1970s. Yet, his story leaves a bitter taste as well as a feeling of incompleteness and total loss&#8230; Just over fifty years ago, the life of a talented boy came to a screeching halt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Franco \/ Le TP OK Jazz - Kinsiona\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7yTmNnj5RV8?feature=oembed&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Franco \/ Le TP OK Jazz &#8211; Kinsiona<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>&#8220;I am crying over my little brother<\/em><br><em>I am crying over Marie-Marie<\/em><br><em>They are in a meeting and waiting for me<\/em><br><em>What great sadness&#8221;<\/em><\/p><cite>Franco<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This comet-like life began in Kinshasa on May 27, 1944. After the death of his father, Marie-Marie was raised alone by his mother in the \u201cFar West\u201d neighborhood (today\u2019s Ngiri-Ngiri municipality). His older brother Fran\u00e7ois, hoping to spare him the hardships of life as a musician \u2013&nbsp;seen as losers by the society&nbsp;\u2013, sent him to study in Bas-Congo, today&#8217;s province of Kongo Central. But much more than books and notebooks, it was the guitar that would become the young man&#8217;s main companion, to the detriment of his studies. Snitched on to Franco by one of his cousins, he was immediately brought back to Kinshasa where the eldest interrogated him about what he would do with his life. His only response: to play the guitar, which he taught himself how to play. So when his authoritarian brother scolds him publicly and demands that he take a test to show what he can do, Marie-Marie takes up the challenge&#8230; The scene takes place at the Congo Bar, under the expert supervision of Simaro Lutumba, Franco&#8217;s second-in-command and conductor of the OK Jazz band. Marie-Marie\u2019s &#8220;official&#8221; musical career begins. But not in the orchestra of his brother, instead he directs him to Negro Succ\u00e8s, the band founded by Leon Bombolo Bolhen \u2013&nbsp;a former Ok Jazz member&nbsp;\u2013 who would soon record the hit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mu6JAF6XZWE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cBana 15 ans\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/77be875d-bavon-marie-marie-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/77be875d-bavon-marie-marie-1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/77be875d-bavon-marie-marie-1-375x497.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1010px) 759px,100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Bavon Marie-Marie (DR)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>And wham! Success instantly followed. From 1965 to 1968, Bavon Marie-Marie climbed to the top of the charts with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EbnVAwCJ8t0&amp;list=PL8800OIx4x5ORHd5aznyezLGwpOuHnk6J&amp;index=4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Maseke Ya Meme&#8221;<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UhV45uSDZCs&amp;list=PL8800OIx4x5ORHd5aznyezLGwpOuHnk6J&amp;index=5&amp;t=0s&amp;app=desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Lucie Tozongana&#8221;<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GDr0rPp-BRc&amp;list=PL8800OIx4x5ORHd5aznyezLGwpOuHnk6J&amp;index=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Nellie Na Place Na Nga&#8221;<\/a>, all huge hits! With the success, he would soon also become a pin-up for young girls. But his heart beat only for Marie Jos\u00e9 Simplice, whom he loved with a passion, to the point of then becoming a possessive and jealous partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One morning, he instigated a violent quarrel, suspecting her of having a lover. Who could he be suspecting? Youlou Mabiala, or Ndombe Opetum (both members of OK Jazz)? Or the footballer Jean Kembo (a member of the national team, &#8220;the Leopards of Zaire&#8221;)? It&#8217;s hard to guess&#8230; and nobody will ever know. However, as he was drunk driving his car, he crashed into a broken-down vehicle and died at the scene on August 5, 1970.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Franco TPOK - Kinsiona\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WOf6C0jT6Uk?feature=oembed&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Franco TPOK &#8211; Kinsiona<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>&#8220;They are in a meeting waiting for me<\/em><br><em>While I am grieving, they are conspiring and waiting for me<\/em><br><em>What great sadness!<\/em><br><em>Such sadness. Where would they go for support?<\/em><br><em>Who would they tell?&#8221;<\/em><\/p><cite>Franco<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Rumors spread accusing Franco of having sacrificed his own brother (this was Kinshasa, and as elsewhere in Africa, accusations of witchcraft are quick to arise, especially against celebrity figures such as Luambo). His elder brother would pay him a vibrant tribute as only singers know how: in music. &#8220;Kinsiona&#8221;, a melancholic hit sung in Kikongo, became the perfect epitaph to bring a close to the musical epic of a life too short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/f5d63a95-ob_763229_franco-et-bavon-marie-marie.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57874\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/f5d63a95-ob_763229_franco-et-bavon-marie-marie.jpg 684w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/f5d63a95-ob_763229_franco-et-bavon-marie-marie-661x493.jpg 661w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/f5d63a95-ob_763229_franco-et-bavon-marie-marie-465x347.jpg 465w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/f5d63a95-ob_763229_franco-et-bavon-marie-marie-375x280.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1010px) 759px,100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Source : Mbokamosika.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u201cKinsiona\u201d lyrics in Kikongo (Kintandu) and loosely translated in English<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Munu muntu n\u2019leki amo ta dil<br><\/strong><em><em>I am crying over my little brother<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bavon Marie ta ndile<br><\/strong><em><em>I am crying over Bavon Marie-Marie<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bevwanda mu fongo mono kwani batabinge<br>Mono kuamu bata bonge<\/strong><br><em><em>They are in a meeting waiting for me<\/em><br><em>While I am grieving, they are conspiring and waiting for me<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eh kinsiona<br><\/strong><em><em>What great sadness [melancholy, hardship]<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eh kinsiona,belomba lusadisu yaye kue?Keti na batelamoe\u2009?<br><\/strong><em><em>Such sadness. Where would they* go for support?<\/em><\/em><br><em>Who would they* tell?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>He dio kanda kala ye ngangu<br><\/strong><em><em>You the family, be careful, be alert<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mbadi tata,kadi mama,kadi ngwa kansi,kadi nketo<br><\/strong><em><em>Without father, mother, uncle or wife<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Belomba lusadisu yaya kwe banani batelamo<br><\/strong><em><em>Who would they* go to for help?<br>Who would they* confide in?<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kinzonzi ki bambuta,kala ye makutu,kala ye ngangu<br><\/strong><em><em>During the assembly of the elders, open your ears and be wise<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bubagoga bawu, usiama ukola<br><\/strong><em><em>When they speak it is so that you grow and mature<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Djo gata mambu manunini<br><\/strong><em><em>There are too many problems in this village; who could survive it?<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Banani basala mo\u2009?<br><\/strong><em><em>Who could survive it?<\/em><\/em><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><em>* \u201cThey\u201d refers to the immediate family of the deceased, as opposed to the extended family and the entire village who took part in the mourning discussions. If the deceased is an orphan, which elder could defend their relatives?<\/em><br><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><em>Thanks to Magloire Mpembi N&#8217;kosi for his invaluable help in the translation of the lyrics.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"913\" src=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/a89799db-bavon-marie-marie-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/a89799db-bavon-marie-marie-2.jpg 650w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/a89799db-bavon-marie-marie-2-465x653.jpg 465w, https:\/\/pan-african-music-production.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/a89799db-bavon-marie-marie-2-375x527.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1010px) 759px,100vw\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In August 1970, Franco&#8217;s younger brother, Bavon Marie-Marie, passed away under tragic circumstances. As an epitaph, the Grand Master paid tribute with one of his most beautiful songs, &#8220;Kinsiona&#8221; (Sorrow).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":57881,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7833],"tags":[41037],"location":[7934],"yst_prominent_words":[8447],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107433"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107433\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107433"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=107433"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=107433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}