Ndombe Opetum

Ndombe Opetum
Birth name	Ndombe Opetum
Also known as	Pepe Ndombe Opetum
Born	January 1, 1947 (1947-01-01) (age 64)
Genres	Soukous
Occupations	composer, vocalist
Years active	1960 - 2008
Associated acts	TPOK Jazz, Bana OK

Ndombe Opetum (born in 1947), popularly known as Pepe, is a soukous recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Music career with OKJazz

Ndombe Opetum was the lead vocalist for Afrisa International, prior to joining TPOK Jazz, in the mid 1970s, after Sam Mangwana had left the band. He came over to OKJazz with horn player Empopo Loway, and he stayed with the band until it split up in December 1993, four years after the death of founder François Luambo Makiadi. Contemporary band members at the time included vocalists: Wuta Mayi, Michel Boyibanda, Josky Kiambukuta and Youlou Mabiala, and rhythm guitarist Simaro Lutumba and solo guitarist Franco himself.^[1]

Ndombe Opetum is credited with composing the following songs for the band, among others:

• Voyage ya Bandundu
• Mawe
• Mabe Yo Mabe - In 1977
• Coupe du Monde - 1979
• Youyou - In 1980
• Angela - In 1989
• Tawaba - In 1989

Music career post OKJazz

Following the death of Franco in 1989, TPOK Jazz continued to play together for four (4) years. Simarro would take care of the musicians and the family would take care of the lawyers, record labels and other technical stakeholders. The musicians would share 70% of receipts, while the Franco family would keep 30% of all receipts. However, differences developed between the musicians and the Franco family and the band split up in December 1993. Ndombe Opetum, together with Simaro Lutumba, Josky Kiambukuta and about thirty (30) former OK Jazz members, formed a new band called Bana OK in January 1994.^[2][3]

Personal details

Pepe Ndombe Opetum is married as is the father of nine (9) children. His fifth offspring is a son, born in Kinshasa on 3 March 1974, who is also a professional vocalist in the DRC. The young Ndombe calls himself Baby Ndombe or Baby Black, and has performed to large audiences in Africa, Europe and North America, targeting primarily the African Diaspora.^[4]

External links

• Overview of Legacy of Franco And TPOK Jazz
• Lengthy Interview With Simaro Lutumba In 2002

Photos

• Photo of Ndombe Opetum Owned By Radio Okapi

See also

• Franco Luambo Makiadi
• Sam Mangwana
• Josky Kiambukuta
• TPOK Jazz
• List of African musicians

References

1. ^ Ndombe Opetum Replaced Sam Mangwana In TPOK Jazz
2. ^ Bana OK Formed In January 1994
3. ^ Life for Band Members After Franco Died
4. ^ Baby Ndombe Is The Son of Pepe Ndombe Opetum

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Date of birth	1 January 1947
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