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 A family affair for Makoma who play at FESPACO's openning ceremony Congolese gospel band to open FESPACO A family with its own unique brand of Congolese Gospel music have been invited to play at the openning ceremony of FESPACO 2003. The band is called Makoma which is their family name, and Nathalie, its youngest member and lead singer explains the ethos of the group. “We didn’t want to do the usual gospel that everyone does – Halelujah, Halelujah! No!” “We wanted it a bit R&B, a bit rock, a bit funk, pop, soul, hip hop. That’s how we like it. Not Rumba!” The Makomas hail from Congo-Kinshasa but are now based in Holland. The group are 6 brothers and sisters from the same mother and father. The seventh member, Patrice, is a “close friend” of the family and also raps. Natalie believes that working in a family environment is more conducive to creativity and to everyone’s well-being. “You can be mad at your sister, but in five or ten minutes, everything is alright. With a friend or colleague it’s different.” Makoma are a gospel group with a difference. Their hairstyles and body adornments have brought Burkinabes to a stand-still in the street. “When we perform, we live with the people, we feel the emotions of the people. It’s very spiritual,” says Natalie. Big brother Duma is on keyboards, whilst Tutala raps. Martin, with gold braids and muscles that dazzle his fans, choreographs the ensemble. Their new album, King of Kings, is showcased in Ouagadougou during the opening ceremony of FESPACO 2003. “The people of Burkina are great so it’s an honour for us,” say the band. |
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