Biography

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BIOGRAPHY

Siama Matuzungidi grew up in a rural area of the Democratic Republic of Congo at a Jesuit seminary where his father was employed as a chef. The priests supported his interest in music and gave him a key to the music room. There Siama had access to many different instruments and a freedom to practice as much as he liked. His favorite came to be the guitar and he eventually was able to take home both a beautiful acoustic and electric guitar. However, it was not until he went to study at a boarding school that he found anyone who could teach him some fundamentals. First, a classroom teacher that knew some guitar, then at another school a student who knew a bit more, but then Siama was on his own, and began his professional career at age of 17.Siama's music is a mixture of traditional music from his home in Mbetani and Soukous music. He plays lead rhythm guitar, and composes and sings in Lingala, Kingo, Swuahili, French and English. The following documents his life in music for nearly four decades.

Contact:

E-mail: siama@earthlink.net
Phone: 612-987-1713 or 612-722-2159

GUITARIST, VOCALIST, COMPOSER

ZAIRE

1971-1975 Cavacha

1975-1978 Bibich

Both bands specialized in Soukous music and performed at restaurants, clubs and music festivals around the Congo's capital, Kinshasa.

UGANDA

1978 Kombe Kombe

Soukous and reggae band with permanent full-time contract at a night club in Kampala.

KENYA

Viva Makale and Shika Shika.

Both bands played Soukous, reggae, and disco music, and toured nightclubs, outdoor festivals and private events around Kenya. Viva Makale had a permanent full-time contract at a nightclub in Nairobi.

1980 MOJA ONE

Soukous band performed around Nairobi and did various recording projects

1881-1986 VIRUNGA / under SAMBA MAPANGALA

Soukous, Reggae, and Disco band that toured Kenya recorded 2 LP 's at the time , and opened for Tabu Ley, a renowned Congolese musician.

1886-1986 IBEBA SYSTEM

Soukous, Reggae, Disco band toured Kenya, recorded 1 LP, and bake Tshala Muana, famous female Congolese musician, for two weeks tourin Kenya , Uganda, Zambia.

JAPAN

1989-1991 IBEBA SYATEM

Three-year full time contract at a night club in Tokyo

1994 LOSAKO

Soukous ,Reggae,Disco and Latin ,band with a seven month contract at a night club.

USA

1995-2004 SHANGOYA

Calypso, Reggae, and Soca band that toured nightclubs, festival ,and special events throughout the midwest.

1995-present MARIMBA AFRICA

Soukous ,Reggae, Zouk and West African highlife that plays in the twin Cities and nationwide.

2002 IROOTS

Reggae and Calypso band that performs across Minnesota.

1995 CYRIL PAUL

Duo or trio work with Trinidadian musician.specializing in Calypso

Reggae, and Soca performances at schools, private events and nightclubs throughout Minnesota.

1995-present KEVIN FURHMAN AND 33 degrees North

Soca, Calypso, Reggae and American Folk group that performs for private events, park series and special events in Minnesota.

EDUCATIONAL MUSICIAN

1998-present CYRIL PAUL

Caribbean culture and songs for K-12 artist in the school residencies.

1999-preseent KARIBUNI

Central, East and south African music and cultural discussions for K-12 school assemblies.

RECORDING ARTIST AND ENGINEER

Vocalist on Smithsonian folkways recording "well May the world go round." with Larry Long.

2005 Recording engineer for Vocalist Zuni Migoze for film.

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