Announcing: Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O-Tunya Dark Sunrise 2CD/3LP Anthology.
We mentioned to you that we were producing an anthology of Zambian “Zamrock” godfather Rikki Ililonga and his groundbreaking Musi-O-Tunya band. The anthology – as a 2 CD, hardbound book edition and a 3 LP box set – is now in production. The anthology surveys Musi-O-Tunya’s first 7″ singles – the first psychedelic rock music released in Zambia – their debut album Wings of Africa and follows Ililonga’s solo career in its first stages, with his Zambia and Sunshine Love albums.
This anthology is scheduled for a fall 2010 release.
This is a giant leap in making the world access the music of Zambia’s greates artist and Zambia’s best band. Rikki Ililonga is an international star who has not been exposed internationally. Mosi Oa Tunya band in my opinion is the best band to ever come from Zambia. I interviewed Rikki Makuyu Ililonga for the Times of Zambia and I believe the country has given him a raw deal. It is good that you guys have realised who this man is. I am not saying this because he is my friend but I feel marketing him internationally would be giving him the respect he deserves.
This is brilliant especially if it includes the singles “Chalo chawama” and “Jeketi ya ma kowa” but what about MoT’s second album “Give Love to Your Children”? I know Paul Ngozi replaced Rikki as lead guitarist but Ndara Mbao and Aliki Kunda were still continuing the Zamrock tradition.
Paul Ngozi left the band before ‘Give Love To Your Children’ was recorded. I was the guitarist instead. Some reviewers were critical of a white man playing with the band but I think my chart record in the local music arena more than qualified me.
You must remember that this album was laid down after the minimum of rehearsal. We became a much tighter unit in the time following the recording.
I remember Wayne’s “wailing” solos on the ‘Give Love to Your Children Album’. Took the band to a whole new height. I also watched the final MOT concert at the 20th Centuary cinama hall in Lusaka. Awesome! You don’t get that anywhere in Zambia today…