Ochestre Les Mangelepa was formed in 1976 in Kenya. Originally hailing from Lumbumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they first came to Kenya as members of Ocherstre Baba Nationale of Baba Gaston. They derived their name ‘Mangelepa’ from a dance that had been invented by bandleader, Kabila wa Kabanze Evany while still in Gaston’s band. It was inspired by the French ‘Marque le pas’ (marking time).
Ocherstre Baba Nationale arrived in Dar in 1972 and soon after started recording with the Tanzania Film Company and another company called Sindimba. In 1973 they boarded an OTC bus to Nairobi to record. They recorded “Affaire Zua” and “Mapenzi ya Peremende” at High Fidelity studios. Following differences amongst the ranks, some members led by Kabila wa Kabanze Evany broke off from Orchestre Baba Nationale to form Orchestre Les Mangelepa.
In 1979 Mangelepa landed a tour of Malawi, which resulted in their other hit “Zikomo Malawi,” a live recording. When the tour ended they returned to Garden Square in Nairobi, and continued to cut records with EMI, Tobina, Jojo Records, among other labels.
Mangelepa have since recorded Safari ya Mangelepa, Golden Voices album and the DVD, The 33rd Anniversary of Mangelepa with Sound Africa.
In June of 2016, Mangelepa had their first European tour that saw them perform 9 shows in 5 different countries. The tour was organized as a collaboration between No- Nation from the UK and Planet Rock from Germany. They will soon be releasing their 40th anniversary album titled ‘Orchestre Les Mangelepa – The Last Band Standing.’
Mangelepa are truly The Last Band Standing and are one of the few bands which feature a full brass section. The surviving me