Remmy Ongala & Orchestre Super Matimila
b. Zaire, 1947. At the age of 17 Remmy Ongala chose music as a means of supporting his family, the task he was left with after the death of his mother. As leader of Orchestre Super Matimila, which he joined in 1981, Remmy has become one of the best-known musicians in Tanzania. In his home-town of Dar Es Salaam he is well known by the community and even has a bus-stop named after him. Remmy's insightful, inspirational songwriting has led to his fans nicknaming him the Doctor. His lyrics are serious considerations of the problems that he and his fellow people face— poverty, poor living conditions, the struggle of women and so on. These lyrics, combined with the bright, danceable, soukous-based music of Orchestre Super Matimila produce a unique combination. This can be heard on SONGS FOR THE POOR MAN which, recorded in England, is the Doctor's second album to be available outside Africa.