Shiko Mawatu

For Immediate Release:

Legendary, African performer Shiko Mawatu’s new album Kimbanda Nzila has been nominated for a prestigious NAACP Award! The album has already garnered a huge amount of critical acclaim and attention for this amazing artist. A percentage of the sales of Shiko’s album are going towards the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation for the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital www.dmf.org. Shiko is extremely committed to giving back and healing his homeland. He is also donating money to help with the construction of new, water wells for the people in the Congo. Shiko Mawatu’s album Kimbanda Nzila is nominated for Best World Music Album.

Shiko Mawatu’s, Kimbanda Nzila is his first solo album after many years of writing and composing for others artist. His phenomenal, debut album comes out at a very difficult time, his country Congo has known nothing but tragedy since 1996. He decided to make the album not only to uplift broken spirits of Congolese and those who love them, but to help raise money to build water wells for the forgotten ones and to give some proceeds to the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation on its wonderful project of building a hospital in Kinshasa Congo.

Shiko Mawatu is the actual voice of the Congo, combining African, sensual, dance music with politically, powerful lyrics. Shiko Mawatu's music is created to primarily bring attention to a country and its people devastated by war. The NAACP nomination is a validation that recognizes his contribution to the American music industry as well. “We are delighted to learn that Shiko Mawatu has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award and we hope that this will help America take a look at the Congo, one of the most impovrished countries in the world. It’s about time for the world music community to take a look at the Congo, given the fact that millions of people are dying but the music is not dying.” Is the official statement from Tabilulu Productions and iMak Entertainment, the Executive producers of Shiko’s CD.

The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was founded in 1909 and the prestigious, organization is one of the champions of social justice. The NAACP was crucial during the civil rights movement and their historic legacy has been influential in creating positive changes in history. The 39th Annual NAACP Image Awards are televised in March and were started in 1967; the award show is the premier event to honor outstanding black actors, actresses, writers, producers and directors. Presented annually the NAACP Awards are a star-studded salute to the best in entertainment. Honorees, presenters and performers have included many of the major celebrities in America (Stevie Wonder, who was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, Halle Berry, and LL Cool J) as well as international political figures and dignitaries. There are 36 competitive categories in the fields of motion picture, television, music and literature.

Shiko has also recently appeared on television with the Travel Expo and the New York City Tourism Board to promote travel in exotic places with a televised performances on Fox Channel 5. For More information on Shiko Mawatu and this project, please contact Zenobia Simmons, 212-786-8496


About Tabilulu Productions and iMak Entertainment:
A statement from Tabilulu Productions and iMak Entertainment explains the deep emotions behind the project, “We are tired of standing by and watching others talk about us as if we do not exist or do not know how to express ourselves. Shiko Mawatu's Kimbanda Nzila although it's not in English language, it is however a testimony of a humanitarian effort from an African trying to help Africa the best way he can. Americans can help by buying Kimbanda Nzila, which is a small step toward reconstructing people's lives.”

If these factors (water wells, proceeds to DMF) come together, they accomplish the goal of every humanitarian response, saving lives. The Congo is among countries that have gone through tragic wars in African history. An eight-year war hasn't ended properly despite an election that took place this year, 2007. The country is still suffering from spasms of violence and little is known about it. Thus the question, has the scale of the tragedy engulfing the Congolese people received proper attention? The answer, sadly, is no. Ignorance of the calamity occurring in the Congo remains almost universal, even though the statistics reflect excess mortality; the number of deaths are staggering. It is said that in Congo over six years war is the equivalent of 9/11 happening every two to three days for six years straight.

The International Rescue Committee, which has been providing humanitarian assistance in Congo since 1996, conducted four mortality surveys in the country between 2000 and 2004; it has found the mortality rate exceeded the "normal" rate for sub-Saharan Africa by nearly 4 million people. This makes the crisis in Congo the deadliest anywh - Source: © Music Industry News Network

August brought two rich days of African music in the blazing sun. Stella Chiweshe (Zimbabwe), Davi Viera (Brazil), Shiko Mawatu (Congo), and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars all performed at Celebrate Brooklyn’s African festival. It was not quite the lineup planned. Guinea’s Sekouba “Bambino” Diabate, who stood in for a no-show Papa Wemba at last year’s festival, was the no-show this year, replaced by the Refugee All Stars, who are sounding sharper than ever. The All Stars were joined for one song by Sierra Leone’s top hip hop act, Dry Yai featuring Bajah. Watch for these guys to break out on their own very soon. - Source: © Afropop Worldwide - afropop.org

BY MARA BROCK AKIL, RICHARD T. JONES, "ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT'S" KEVIN FRAZIER AND NAACP EXECUTIVES The 39TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS Airs Live Thursday, February 14 On FOX

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., (January 8, 2008) -- The 39th NAACP Image Awards
nominees were announced today during a press conference at The Beverly Hilton
Hotel. Richard T. Jones (Actor, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Kevin
Frazier (Host, Entertainment Tonight) and Mara Brock Akil (Exec. Producer/Writer, The
Game and Girlfriends) joined Dennis Hayes, interim President of the NAACP, along with
NAACP Image Awards Committee Chair, Clayola Brown, and Vicangelo Bulluck,
Executive Producer, to announce the categories and nominees. The 39th NAACP
Image Awards will air live on Thursday, February 14 (8:00 – 10:00 PM ET/PT Tape-
Delayed) on FOX.

The NAACP Image Awards honors projects and individuals that promote diversity in the
arts in television, recording, literature and motion pictures. The theme of this year’s
show is “Stand Up and Be Counted.” During this crucial election year, the NAACP
encourages everyone to be socially conscious and take a stand on critical human and
civil rights issues.

Additionally, in recognition that today’s environmental crisis will become tomorrow’s civil
rights issues, this year the NAACP is incorporating eco-friendly initiatives to reduce the
Image Award’s carbon footprint and reduce the ceremonies impact on the world’s
climate.

This year, over 1,200 entries were received. From those entries, a special committee of
300 industry professionals and NAACP leaders from across the country selected five
nominees in each of 44 categories. Any artist, manager, publicist, production company,
record label, studio, network or publishing house could submit an entry to the NAACP
Image Awards. The final selections are voted on by NAACP members, and winners will
be announced during the live airing of the 39th NAACP Image Awards.

FedEx is returning this year as a major sponsor of The 39th NAACP Image Awards on
Thursday, Feb 14 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT Tape-Delayed) on FOX. Additional sponsors
include American Airlines, Allstate Insurance Company, Best Buy, Chevrolet, Ford
Motor Company, Sprint, Wachovia Corporation, and Diageo.

Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult
and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier
advocates for civil rights in their communities and monitor equal opportunity in the public
and private sectors.

THE 39th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS NOMINATION RESULTS

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Outstanding World Music Album
• Angelique Kidjo – “Djin Djin” (Razor & Tie)
• Habib Koité – “Afriki” (Cumbancha)
• Various Artists – “Putumayo Presents: World Hits” (Putumayo)
• Shiko Mawatu – “Kimbanda Nzila” (Sterns)
• Youssou N’Dour – “Rokku Mi Rokka” (Atlantic) - Source: © National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Shiko Mawatu, one of the best of the new generation of Congolese guitarists, meets Malage de Lugendo, one of the best of an older generation of Congolese singers. CD+DVD.

http://www.amazon.com/Kimbanda-Nzila-Shiko-Mawatu/dp/B000UTOPJ8 - Source: © Amazon - CD Release Date: August 7, 2007

Shiko Mawatu and his original songs have brought back African sensual and dancing music, the true meaning of Congo Rumba. Like his musical spiritual godfather Franco Luambo Makiadi, this Kinshasa native has magic fingers on his guitar.

http://cdbaby.com/cd/shikomawatu
- Source: © CD Baby

Shiko Mawatu: Ntaba Ya Bandundu

Shiko Mawatu is a Congolese who lives at the moment in New York in the United States. He worked for several years alongside greats as Congolese music Madilu System, Josky Kiambukuta, etc. As an accomplished composer, guitarist and arranger, Shiko now decides to emerge from the shadows with a new album: Kimbanda Nzila which will be released by the end of May.

http://www.radiookapi.net/index.php?i=63&m=3&hi=6
- Source: © Radio Okapi

Kinshasa, 11/09/2007/Music

The album “Kimbanda Nzila” of Shiko Mawatu produced by iMak Entertainment and Tabilulu Productions points out the old memories of Franco Luambo Makiadi. The album “Kimbanda Nzila” of Shiko Mawatu left in April brings closer this artist Luambo Makiadi and the fact of entering the line of Madilu like one of the spiritual descendants of the owner of TP OK Jazz.

Its guitar, the whole of the orchestration and even of the set of themes in its album points out several memories of Franco. There is no doubt with that. We have to note it because we were likely to taste with the delights of this opus of 11 songs.

Initially about the orchestration, the guitar in particular, this musician resuscitates the Large Master Franco. The only difference is that the owner of OK Jazz scraped the guitar at the same time as he sang too. Even if Shiko is not himself with the microphone, the style in the writing of the songs and the manner of interpreting them remainder the same one. But by listening to “Kimbanda Nzila” one would also believe that one is been used of Madilu or of Tabu Ley, the Kekele group, Bana OK.

It is not all, conscious of the diversity which characterizes the music, it also thinks of the youth which more and more, because of Blanchard de Plaisir, Fally Ipupa, Kofi Olomide, Ferre Gola…, is interested in the rumba, always knows “envoûtement” of its “Ndombolo”.

One particularly notices it in the credits of this work which occupies the 5th position of the album and which gave the title headlight to its album, i.e. “Kimbanda Nzila”.

Sung in “Kimbala”, a language of Bandundu in democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), this song has all the young orchestras this country, in particular of Latin Quarter with regard to the rate/rhythm. To achieve his goal, the artist knew to juggle with the dances and calls of animation in vogue as “E esua, esala pasi; Kuanza munu awa; Kisanola… ”. But it exploits also other calls which are not famous in Kinshasa. It is the case of “Farmhouse has yakunua ve, massed ya kuyobila”, which is alluring to this category of people, who constitute the majority of the consumers of the music.

Certainly this is why Shiko associated with the realization with this project with young musicians with the singers but talented among whom Malage de Lugendo, old of Ok Jazz which also passed by Ok Jazz and from Zaïko, Baby Ndombe the son of Ndombe Opetun, also former musician of Ok Jazz, but itself defector of Wenge MMM. He also worked with Lucien Bokilo, Nguma Lokito, former guitarist of Anti Shock and others.

Error thus with all those which believe that Franco left with its music or with the rumba “died” with disappearance Madilu bus Shiko in its “Kimbanda Nzila” perpetuates its style in any case, its school.

Google Translation from French:
http://www.digitalcongo.net/article/46563 - Source: © Digital Congo

05 Mai 2007

Shiko Mawatu was born in Kinshasa in a family where the practice of the music was natural thing. His/her father was an achieved accordionist, and his/her two brothers Bunda Mawatu and Rocky Lisasu sang in Kinshasa in the Simba group. After being rocked by the music, and being immersed in the melodies as of its tender childhood, Shiko Mawatu was subjected to various musical currents. It was discovered very young by Kiamuangana Mateta, said Verckys, “the man with the iron lungs ”, saxophonist in O.K.Jazz, which created its own orchestra Ecurie Vévé, before launching out in the production of artists. As of adolescence, Shiko had thus the leisure to exert its talents of type-setter.

Any young person, but talented, it forms the group “Paty - Bana Ngenge” with his friends Aziza and Tofolo, musicians also gifted. This orchestra interpreted the compositions of Shiko in many concerts with Kinshasa during several years. Thereafter, Shiko decided to continue its career in solo for better expressing its talent of arranger, composer-songwriter and interpreter. This career brought to discover Vonga Aye, a young singer of talent. And with Empopo Loway, another famous saxophonist, they formed a group in which Vonga Aye was the principal singer. All the three collaborated with “Dr.” Nico Kasanda Wa Mikalayi, this legendary guitarist, who took them along to Europe to record their first album, “Kojak Candy”. Well before this voyage in Europe, the success met by Shiko as a guitarist, composer-songwriter and an arranger had placed it on orbit in the musical community kinoise.


Google Translation from French:
http://www.lepotentiel.com/afficher_article.php?id_edition=&id_article=45241
- Source: © Le Potentiel

Formerly, Congo with its strong culture was known universally thanks to its rumba which besides had made its reputation of mark with names which until today evoke prestige, class, respect, life style, etc Names like Large Kallé, Franco Luambo Makiadi, Tabu Ley, Vickie Longomba, Bombenga, Bokelo, all the legends which had sû to link a whole nation with a national cultural identity.

The political community of the time was identified with the rumba, moreover, the transition from the peasant to the townsman of the time was easy and fast thanks to the rumba of the city. Therefore, it represented not only one music of pleasure, freedom and the victory but especially a culture of independence, the evolution and integration in the urban life. Let us re-examine the photographs of the years 1960 to understand that Large Kallé was a Mister very sophisticated in his behaviour and its word. Tabu Rochereau, the Ley Lord remained very distinguished until our days thanks to a foundation and a strong school which is not other than the rumba. It produced strong men like the Large Master Yorgo, Luambo Makiadi which knew to keep a whole nation in alarm with subjects challenging the conscience of the Congolese/Zairean citizen some is the social class. Free its conviction with its music mixed to make dance the teacher, ambassadors statesmen of the primary schools , the commercial women, etc

Is Rumba it really of return or Congo is spirit of living only one retro moment? Papa Wemba wants only to speak rumba last time, Ferre Gola touches the hearts of people with beautiful songs rumba, Karmapa is made a name thanks to tubes rumba that many adores to listen to the night before sleeping, and of course Fally Ipupa, him which is pointed out by its beautiful songs which in the majority are all of the rumba. But alas, there T it is enough convictions in their songs? Does the population know it it importance of this rate/rhythm which formerly had made the force of our nation, Congo?

There are hearts which think that the current rumba is played well, but with a culture very Hip Hop, where one sees artists behaving like American rappeurs. Singers with Jeans which leave the underclothing to overdraft, of the tennis shoes to the feet in the place of the shoes of city. Is what this rumba with the culture Hip Hop can it today do to dance the statesmen, the ambassadors on mission official, the teachers of the primary schools like had made Large Kallé, the Ley Lord, Franco Luambo Makiadi different time in Congo?

The answer is in the person and the music of Shiko Mawatu. This Mister is one of the rare beings which could learn from large from this world. It naturally grew in a family where the father was a large accordionist and big brothers singers, It is made discover by Vévé Verckys Kiamuangana which gave him the advisability of writing songs and to make compositions since his adolescence. Shiko discovered Vonga Aye and then worked with Empopo Loway, for after collaborating with Doctor Nico, Kasanda Wa Mikalayi, the god of the Congolese guitar.

Like a small fish in water, Shiko bathed in the music of the Masters in Congo. It learned how to discover talents, it is like that that it discovered for the first time celebrates it Congolese vocalist Malage de Lugendo before the OK Jazz and Zaïko Langa Langa benefit from its beautiful voice. In what concerns to him, Shiko Mawatu was already known in the closed loop of the Congolese world musical as being a genius of the composition of the rumba without to have discs in the market. It had written songs hits and had also made monstrous arrangements for giants like Pepe Kallé and Tshala Muana. Mr. Mawatu is that which brought Mukangi Deesse of Kisangani to Kinshasa via Afro-International. For those which worked with him, they say that Shiko Mawatu is a guitarist except pair, a lyric writer in the class of Simaro Lutumba, Kofi Olomide, max Mongali, Mayaula, Bimi Ombale, etc

In its music, Shiko Mawatu is of a doubled rare eloquence of a sensual personality. It brought back the culture rumba which had made dance the Heads of States, the ambassadors on mission official , the owners and the moms ya talo who all wanted good music and not perspiration. Shiko reproduces the typical atmosphere of the Congolese rumba without appearing obsolete. It already did it with bravery when it had collaborated with Madilu Système, the Large Ninja in the albums like, Water, Pouvoir and Happiness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC7OnX-FNt0 .

It had written and arranged songs in all these albums, which had not danced it? The Commander Josky Kiambukuta had also urgently claimed the service of this genius of the Congolese rumba for the realization of his album Oui a.c. Va which besides has incredible tubes by Shiko Mawatu. Its extraordinary talent, its experiment and its maturity burst at the great day in its very first and next album solo called Kimbanda Nzila. (www.shikomawatu.com)

In this album, S - Source: © Congo Vision