ARRETEZ L'HEMORRAGIE!
 Shiko Mawatu demande à ce que les Congolais arretent l' hemorragie dans leurs communautes respectives et surtout en RD Congo à travers la chanson Arretez l' Hemorragie, un single de son prochain album ADN . Dans sa chanson Arretez l' Hemorragie , Shiko Mawatu est d'une éloquence rare de nos jours, par la belle voix de Malage de Lugendo, il s' exprime sans reserve. Il a reproduit l'atmosphère typique de la rumba Congolaise sans paraitre démodé. Il y a sa guitare et biensure des mbwakela par sa voix et en complicité avec le cuivre d' Akazol Kalula , un ex de l' Afrisa International. Shiko Mawatu a encore ramené la culture rumba mais cette fois-ci pour faire passer un message direct et tres patriotique. C' est surement un art qu'il a appris et perfectionné en écoutant des maitres de la musique Congolaise comme Franco Luambo Makiadi de T.P. O.K. Jazz et Simaro Lutumba Masiya. Son ambition a toujours été d'essayer de ressusciter la Rumba congolaise, l' avait il dit une fois, lorsque qu' il était plus jeune, c'était un sentiment qu' il gardait dans son fort intérieur. Son rêve a été de reprendre là où le Grand maître Franco Luambo Makiadi s'était arrêté!
Shiko Mawatu , un des rares artistes qui ont pu apprendre des grands de ce monde; il s'est baigné dans la sauce musicale des maitres de la musique au Congo. Un génie de la composition des belles rumba Congolaises connues par les belles voix de Madilu System , Josky Kiambukuta, Malage de Lugendo, Pepe Kallé, Vonga Aye, Tshala Muana, Faya Tess, etc. Pour ceux qui ont travaillé avec lui, ils disent que Shiko Mawatu est un guitariste hors paire, un parolier dans la classe de Simaro Lutumba, Koffi Olomide, Max Mongali, Mayaula Mayoni, Bimi Ombale , et autres.
Mr. Mawatu a inscrit son nom dans les annales de Hollywood, grâce à son premier opus « Kimbanda Nzila » produit par Lubangi Walter Muniania (Tabilulu Productions) et Euloge Kupanda Makombo (iMak Entertainment ). L' album etait nominé meilleur album dans la catégorie « Musique du Monde » lors de la 39em edition du NAACP Image Awards en 2008 . Donc, il n' y a plus de questions à se poser pour la rumba Congolaise, elle a déjà officiellement fait son entrée dans l' histoire des belles musiques du monde à Hollywood grâce à un travail très bien fait et très bien présenté par un fils du Congo, Shiko Mawatu.
Arretez l' Hemorragie a ainsi donc ramené le discour de l' amour du prochain et l' amour de sa nation dans les discussions Congolaises. L' importance de la parole dans la Rumba Congolaise avait fait du Congo de Grand Kalle, Dr. Nico, Dewayon, Bombenga, Vicky Longomba, Tabu Ley, Lucie Eyenga et Franco Luambo Makiadi un pays d' une culture tres forte et d' un peuple tres respecte, donc le voila qui retrouve sa place dans cette chanson de Shiko Mawatu . Dans tous les cas, cette chanson est une invitation à creuser sous la surface de la mentalité Congolaise en réintroduisant le sujet de l' amour du prochain et l' amour de sa nation.
Qui est à l' abbris?
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGwQW1Et4MY
L' interview: http://www.shikomawatu.blogspot.com/
Congo Vision
9 octobre 2011
ARRETEZ L'HEMORRAGIE!
By Lubangi Muniania
 Shiko Mawatu is a thinker, poet, writer, composer and of course a musician who wants the world to know about the pain of Congolese people in the heart of Africa. As long as brutality is used to rule the people of Congo or anywhere else in the world, Mr. Mawatu is determined to put it into songs so the whole world would know about it. Although melodies have been part of his life and comfort, he uses melodies to express his frustration, but wisely. He once said in one of his interviews "I always heard melodies when people spoke, when children cried, when animals or birds sung or when a tropical heavy rain came down." "Melodies are there and always present for me." The concept of a melody as an expression is Shiko Mawatu's mode of operation as an artist, a songwriter and a composer.
Since brutality has become a way of ruling in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Shiko Mawatu has used melodies once again to denounce the atrocities and the mentality that comes with it. Arretez l' Hemorragie , which is French for stop the bleeding. He feels like DR Congo is bleeding and no one is there to stop it. Shiko Mawatu invites each one of the Congolese to look at the mirror and change the person in the mirror. Arretez l' Hemorragie is a single from his upcoming album ADN, w hich will be a series of Congolese Rumba and Mbwakela after Mbwakela.
Let's keep in mind that Mr. Mawatu is a 39th NAACP IMAGE Award nominee for an outstanding World Music album, which means his style of music has been recognized on an international level already, unless you've been living in a cave somewhere. His schedule, work ethics and conditions have improved tremendously since the release of his previous album Kimbanda Nzila. In fact, the whole world can now listen to his melodies on iTunes or get his CD on http://www.itunes.com/ , http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.cdbaby.com/ , http://www.sternsmusic.com/ etc. in case you just came out of your cave, please google or youtube these titles to learn more about Shiko Mawatu composing and writing ability: Arretez l' Hemorragie, Ntaba Ya Bandundu , Moziki , Afrique from Kimbanda Nzila CD+DVD and Kupanda , Vincent Gomez from Madilu system's Bon Humeur 's album. He also crafted legendary hits like Faute Ya Visas , Double Faces , Juste un peu d' Amour , etc.
Shiko Mawatu's great single on Youtube Arretez l' Hemorragie indicates a call for a better Congo and Africa in general. Check out this interview with the man whom I respectfully call the thinker:
L.M: How are you doing Shiko Mawatu?
S.M: I am doing better than the last time you saw me. I am not yet the way I want to be, but with God's grace, I'll feel like always.
L.M: Arretez L' Hemorragie or stop the bleeding Shiko Mawatu, why?
S.M: Right now there is blood, I don't care if you see it or not, there's blood in DR Congo and we need to stop it now. Every body is blaming somebody, but how many of us are looking in the mirror to change the man in the mirror? Change starts within oneself first!
L.M: You said that Congolese have agreed not to agree, is that true?
S.M: It is a perception. The way things are going in Congo right now, it feels like Congolese have agreed to not agree. How can you explain the fact that we still have invaders in and out of Eastern Congo without the leader of the country firmly condoning these actions and engaging in bringing the Congolese Diaspora together?
L.M: What do you mean?
S.M: There is a resolution or something to that effect published by the United Nations, pointing fingers at Uganda & Rwanda as countries that have brought about killings in masses right in the territory of Congo, including the massacre by Kundabatware the rebel guy from Rwanda. We have an official document that could be used in an international court to sue these countries or their leaders. But much to my surprise, Congolese authorities are not saying much to put these aggressors on hot seats.
L.M: Are you saying that Congolese government isn't protecting its people?
S.M: I don't think it is! Joseph Kabila should be out there pushing law suits against Rwanda and Uganda for the benefits of the daughters and sons of DR Congo. His advisers are Congolese, why can't they use United Nations publication on Congo as an evidence of Genocide in Congo? God's willing, Congo will one day have a rightful leader who will stand for the victims of aggression and reparations.
L.M: So, who do you blame, Rwanda and Uganda?
S.M: United Nations has blamed them already, not me. I blame Congolese government for turning its back on a dossier that should become a basis for taking Uganda and Rwanda to an international court. These leaders have gained so much financially while Congolese are losing lives, pride and future. These are crimes against humanity, which have 6, 000, 000 people died already and Joseph Kabila has not yet told Kagame and Museveni what Congolese people are feeling about this?
LM: So, Ugandans and Rwandans are bad according to you?
SM: No! I never said that and I will never say it. We've lived with Ugandans and Rwandans all of our lives and we will live with them again and again. But, we can not close our eyes to the power in place that is abusing Congolese. A simple Rwandan and Ugandan alike aren't to be blamed, but their leaders and the system they've established in Eastern Congo is killing millions in Congo and there's a lot of bleeding that needs to be stopped. These leaders aren't working for the innocents, they are working for their own interests and the interests of multinationals. It is the worst time in history to be from those countries!
LM: Joseph Kabila is popular among Congolese musicians isn't he, so don't blame Rwanda Mr. Mawatu?
SM: Listen, Joseph Kabila is buying his popularity from these musicians! I don't think many of them are really honest with their feelings. Personal interests as I said it in my song Arretez l' Hemorragie , my colleagues are getting paid to sing praises for Joseph Kabila, they are not on the side of the Congolese victims. I will never do that and I have no intention of singing praises for somebody who has not yet kicked out the occupation in Eastern Congo. Let's be serious please!
LM: Aren't you afraid of the "combatants" for the music you do?
SM: These combatants are saying no to the power in place in Kinshasa, no to the system established in Eastern Congo by Museveni and Kagame. It is no longer a secret, people do not want to be manipulated anymore. These "combatants" were sponsors or patrons of Congolese music for years. It's only about 2 years ago that they've become "combatants." Before this, they were all accused of being "lazy" and "dormant" while their country DR Congo was occupied. They were called BMW, which means beer, music & women lovers. Now, they have taken a different route, they demand change in Congo and they are on the side of Congolese victims. Let's face it, the same people have sent money via Western Union worth $ 5 billions a year to their families, friends and musicians, which helped the economy of Congo. And don't forget they supported all major Congolese artists inside Congo and outside back to back for years. So, I understand their frustrations and I know what they stand for, however they need to support musicians who are singing for the same cause. We are all for the victims and not for a system that is destroying the country.
LM: Arretez l' Hemorragie is a beautiful Rumba with a great voice and an excellent saxophone. Who did you work with?
SM: Thank you very much. I try to keep my music Congolese but with an up to date subject so my friends can relate to it. I want to thank Akazol, a veterant saxophonist who used to play for Afrisa with Tabu Ley. Akazol did me a great favor, I will never be able to repay him for such a favor. That kind of talent, a true musician from the Congolese golden music era is hard to find. Of course you hear my voice here and there during my Mbwakela but the beautiful singing voice is of my friend and brother, the legendary Malage De Lugendo. This guy is an angel, a voice like that is a gift from God, you can never buy it and it is priceless!
LM: So, what is the street date for your new album ADN?
SM: It's up to my producer for the moment, we'll know pretty soon, but for now, let's enjoy Arretez l' Hemorragie my message to the world.
Looking back, historically DR Congo has not yet declared economic victory since its independence in 1960, only a sad history of being occupied by foreign forces since 1885. The largest United Nations army is now controlling much of the country for humanitarian reason, well, let's hope that is indeed the case.
Little is known when it comes to Congolese opposing UN presence in their territory or artists addressing issues of occupation, mineral conflicts, human right abuses and rape acts throughout the country. So, let's give credit to Shiko Mawatu for taking the risk of singing against the power in place and its machine among the people, it is very dangerous and challenging. So, Kudos maestro Mawatu!
Congo Vision
9 octobre 2011
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