At the epitome of his musical career with Orchestra Virunga in the 1990s, band leader Samba Mapangala never dreamt of relocating from Kenya to any part of the world in pursuit of greener pastures.
It was a time when his popularity had thrived and rivalling those of rhumba and Lingala maestros Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi of TP OK Jazz Band or Tabu Ley Rochearue of Afrisa International Orchestra in the fight for top honours.
On his part, Mapangala had the advantage of being lucky to sing in three dialects…
