Veteran Congolese rumba star Mose Fan Fan will be in Kenya this Easter weekend to entertain his Kenyan fans in Nairobi and Kisumu. Mose Se Sengo, popularly known as Fanfan, whose the song “Papa Lolo” has been trending in Kenya for a while, promises a great treat.
His first show will be at Deep West Resort, off Langa’ta Road in Nairobi on Friday, March 24th. The next show will be at the Buccaneers Club in Kisumu on March 26. His final show will be at Egesa East Villa in Nairobi’s Umoja Estate on March 27.
Fanfan, who is based in Britain, will be accompanied by another rumba great Nzaya Nzayadio, of the Orchestre Lipua Lipua fame, in his tour of Kenya. Fanfan first made a name for himself in the 1960s and 1970s as a member of Franco’s TPOK Jazz. He first hit the limelight in Kinshasa with his song “Dje Melasi”.
Speaking to Saturday Nation recently from the UK, Fanfan said he will be backed up by soloist Fiston Lusambo, kongas player Saidi Kanda, guitarist Ladi Mbala and drummer Milba. “We intend to give our fans the best of both our new and old songs,” he said.
In the UK, the Congolese guitar wizard leads the Session Somo Somo Band, an offshoot of the original TP Somo Somo that he formed after leaving Luambo OK Jazz in 1973. Fanfan is one the few guitarists who were able to adopt Franco’s unique guitar playing style. Franco had a knack for nurturing talent and allowed his protégés such as Fan Fan to learn, flourish and strike out on their own.
During the forthcoming tour, Fan Fan will perform a rich repertoire of songs, ranging from TPOK Jazz oldies, Orchestre Makassy’s compositions and a few from the Orchestra Lipua Lipua discography. The tour, which is being organised by retired Kenyan athlete Rose Tata Muya of the Rotamu International Promotions, will also double as a charity function to raise funds for child support groups in Tata Muya’s native Elgeyo Marakwet County.
She said the child help event will be held on April 9 after the Papa Lolo shows. “This year, we are honoured to have Mose Fan Fan as the main performer during our charity’s eve,” Ms Muya said.
