Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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BOSCO, John Mwendo

(b 1925, Jadotville, Zaire) Singer-composer, guitarist; virtuoso maringa and rumba musician, pioneer of Zairian music. A Sanga speaker with urban roots, he received a formal education, worked as a clerk in Jadotville and was 'discovered' by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey on a recording trip, using a standard steel-strung Spanish guitar; he made his first recording in 1951. His most enduring song 'Masanga' '52 made him famous, won Osborne award for best African music, theme used by Sir William Walton in his 'Johannesburg Festival Overture' '56. Bosco released over 80 78rpm records '52-62 on the South African Gallotone label, including his second major hit 'Bombalaka'. He dropped into obscurity as amplified music swept Africa in the 1960s, resurfaced briefly for two singles on Decca '74, was rediscovered '82 and invited to tour and record in Germany and Austria: two LPs of his songs were re-recorded there. 'Masango' was also available on a Folkways African compilation Guitars Vol 1 '76. Bosco lived alternatively in Sakanya, near Zambian border, and Lubumbashi.