Konono Nᵒ1

{{Short description|Congolese musical group}} {{Infobox musical artist| | name = Konono Nº1 | image = KononoN°1.jpg | caption = Konono Nº1 performing in May 2007 | image_size = | landscape = yes | background = group_or_band | origin = [[Kinshasa]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] | genre =  | years_active = 1966–present | label = [[Crammed Discs]], [[Ache Records]] | associated_acts = | current_members = Makonda Mbuta Menga Waku Pauline Mbuka Nsiala Vincent Visi Ndofusu Mbiyavanga | past_members = Mingiedi Mawangu Augustin Mawangu Mingiedi }} '''Konono Nº1''' is a musical group from [[Kinshasa]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]. They are known for their [[Do it yourself|DIY]] aesthetic, combining [[Electric lamellophone|electric likembé]] (a traditional instrument similar to the [[mbira]]) with vocals, dancers, and percussion instruments that are made out of items salvaged from a junkyard. The group's amplification equipment is equally rudimentary, including a microphone carved out of wood fitted with a magnet from an automobile [[alternator]] and a gigantic horn-shaped amplifier. The genre of the band's music has been characterized as difficult to classify; the group themselves have classified their music under the labels of "tradi-modern" and "Congotronics".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2016/04/review-konono-no1-and-batida-konono-no1-meets-batida/|title=Review: Konono Nº1 And Batida Redefine Trance On 'Konono Nº1 Meets Batida'|last=Gubbels|first=Jason|date=25 April 2016|website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref>

Konono Nº1 achieved international recognition around 2004, with the release of their album ''[[Congotronics]]'' through the [[Crammed Discs]] record label. Appealing to fans of [[Rock music|rock]] and [[electronic music]], they played at the [[Eurockéennes]] festival in France the following year. They collaborated with [[Björk]] for a song on her 2007 album ''[[Volta (album)|Volta]]'', and with [[Herbie Hancock]] for a song on his 2010 album ''[[The Imagine Project]]''. Konono Nº1 released the album ''[[Assume Crash Position]]'' in 2010, followed by ''Konono Nº1 Meets Batida'' (2016), a collaboration between Konono Nº1 and the musician Batida, also known as Pedro Coquenão.

== Etymology == The group's full name, as seen on the banner in its music video, is '''L'orchestre folklorique T.P. Konono Nº1 de Mingiedi'''; "T.P." (short for ''tout puissant'', or "all powerful") is an homage to the band of the legendary Congolese musician [[Francois Luambo Makiadi|Franco]], which was called [[TP OK Jazz]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

== History ==

===Origins=== Konono Nº1 originally came from the [[Kongo people|Kongo or Bacongo]] region that spans parts of [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] and [[Angola]]. The group eventually headquartered themselves in the city of [[Kinshasa]] in the DRC.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://konono1.bandcamp.com/album/konono-n-1-meets-batida|title=Konono N°1 meets Batida, by Konono N°1|website=Konono N°1|access-date=2020-03-21}}</ref> [[File:Likembe.JPG|thumb|A member of the band playing the ''likembe'', a traditional thumb piano.]] The group was formed in 1966 by Mingiedi Mawangu,<ref name="mawangu" /> a [[Mbira|likembé]] player and truck driver. Mawangu was a member of the Zombo (or Bazombo) ethnic group, whose homeland is in Maquela do Zombo, located in [[Uíge Province]] of Angola, near the border with [[DR Congo]]. For his likembé ensemble, he adapted Zombo ritual music that was originally played by an ensemble of horns made from elephant tusks.{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}

In November 1978 the ensemble called Orchestre Tout Puissant Likembe Konono Nº1 (OR “All-Powerful Likembe Orchestra Konono Nº1”) recorded one track, "Mungua-Muanga," for the [[compilation album]] ''Zaire: Musiques Urbaines a Kinshasa''. Since the release of this early recording, Konono Nº1 has influenced many other Congolese popular musicians and groups.<ref name=afropop />

===2000s=== Konono Nº1 first played outside of Africa in 2003 when they toured the Netherlands with Dutch band [[The Ex (band)|The Ex]]. Since this tour The Ex has regularly performed one of Konono Nº1's songs live, appearing on The Ex albums ''[[Turn (The Ex album)|Turn]]'' (2004) and ''[[Enormous Door]]'' (2013) as "Theme From Konono."<ref name="Wolk Pitchfork">{{cite web|last1=Wolk|first1=Douglas|title=The Ex & Brass Unbound: Enormous Door|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18214-the-ex-brass-unbound-enormous-door/|website=pitchfork.com|publisher=Pitchfork Media|access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref> In 2004 The Ex's guitarist Terrie Hessels released a live recording of a Konono Nº1 performance on his label Terp records. The album, titled ''Lubuaku'', was recorded live in Vera, [[Groningen]], during the band's tour with The Ex.

In 2004 Konono Nº1 began releasing albums through the Belgian label [[Crammed Discs]]. The first of these, entitled ''[[Congotronics]]'', was produced in Kinshasa by Crammed Discs' [[Vincent Kenis]] and released to much enthusiasm from the international press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crammed.be/index.php?id=45&art_id=77|title = Sounds & Visuals etc.: CRAMMED DISCS}}</ref> Since then the group has achieved renown in North America, Europe, and Japan, supported by extensive touring. [[File:Konono w71 01.JPG|thumb|Konono N°1 at ''Club W71'', [[Weikersheim]]]] In 2006 the band won the Newcomer Award from the [[BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music]].<ref name=bbc /> Konono Nº1's album ''Live At Couleur Café'' was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008.

Konono Nº1 collaborated with [[Björk]] on the song "[[Earth Intruders]]" from her studio album, ''[[Volta (album)|Volta]]''. They also accompanied her on her promotional tour for the album in 2007.<ref name=mawangu /> They also collaborated on "[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]" for the 2010 [[Herbie Hancock]] album, ''[[The Imagine Project]]'' along with [[Seal (musician)|Seal]], [[P!nk]], [[India.Arie]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Oumou Sangare]] and others.<ref name=allaboutjazz /> The song earned the Grammy Award for "Best Pop Collaboration".<ref name=mawangu />

===2010–present=== Konono Nº1 were among the musical artists that [[Matt Groening]] selected to perform at the edition of the [[All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)|All Tomorrow's Parties]] festival that he curated in May 2010 in Minehead, England.<ref>Gehr, Richard, [https://www.spin.com/2010/05/9-best-moments-all-tomorrows-parties/ "The 9 Best Moments of All Tomorrow's Parties"], ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', May 10, 2010.</ref> That same month [[Crammed Discs]] released the fourth volume in its [[Congotronics series]], ''[[Assume Crash Position]]'', produced by [[Vincent Kenis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crammed.be/index.php?id=37&rel_id=349|title=CRAMMED DISCS: Konono No.1 - Assume Crash Position}}</ref> Six months later the label released ''[[Tradi-Mods Vs. Rockers: Alternative Takes on Congotronics]]'', a multi-artist album containing interpretations, covers and tributes to the music of [[Kasai Allstars]], Konono Nº1 and other Congotronics bands, recorded by 26 indie rock and electronic musicians, including a.o. [[Deerhoof]], [[Animal Collective]], [[Andrew Bird]], [[Juana Molina]], [[Shackleton (musician)|Shackleton]], [[Megafaun]], [[Aksak Maboul]], Mark Ernestus and others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crammed.be/index.php?id=37&rel_id=365|title=CRAMMED DISCS: Tradi-Mods vs Rockers - Alternative Takes on Congotronics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/tradi-mods-vs-rockers-alternative-takes-on-congotronics-mw0002064504/releases|title = Album Search for "tradi mods vs rockers alternative takes on congotronics"}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bahn |first=Christopher |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/various-artists-itradi-mods-vs-rockersi-48371 |title=Various Artists: Tradi-Mods Vs. Rockers |work=A.V. Club |date=2008-11-30 |access-date=2014-08-30 }}</ref>

In 2011, Konono N°1 took part in the [[Congotronics vs Rockers]] project, a "superband" including ten Congolese and ten indie rock musicians that included members of [[Deerhoof]], [[Wildbirds & Peacedrums]], [[Kasai Allstars]], and [[Skeletons (band)|Skeletons]], along with [[Juana Molina]]. This superband collaborated to create a common repertoire and performed at 15 major festivals and venues in ten countries.<ref name=cvs /><ref name=cvs2 /><ref name=cvs3 />

In July 2016, the group was in [[Romania]], and appeared at the [[Outernational Days festival]] in [[Bucharest, Romania|Bucharest]] organized by ''[[The Attic (magazine)|The Attic magazine]]'' and the Control Club.<ref>''Best Music'', 08 Iulie 2016 - 3000 de participanti au fost la festivalul Outernational Days</ref><ref>Anyplace.ro, 8 iulie 2016 - [http://www.anyplace.ro/news_details/bucuresti/1/4387/3000-de-participani-la-prima-ediie-outernational-days 3000 de participanți la prima ediție Outernational Days]</ref>

===Lineage=== [[File:Mawangu Mingiedi.JPG|thumb|Founder Mingiedi Mawangu in 2011]] Konono Nº1 founder Mingiedi Mawangu stopped touring with the band around 2009, and entrusted his duties as band leader and lead likembe player to his son Augustin Mawangu Mingiedi, who further developed the sound of Konono's electric thumb piano by using various effect pedals. Mingiedi Mawangu died on April 15, 2015, aged 85.<ref name=mawangu /> His son and successor, Augustin, died on October 16, 2017, aged 56. His own son, Makonda, inherited the likembe and leadership.<ref>[https://pitchfork.com/news/konono-n1s-augustin-mawangu-mingiedi-dead-at-56/ "Konono N°1’s Augustin Mawangu Mingiedi Dead at 56", by Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork.com]</ref>

==Awards== * [[BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music]] Newcomer award (2006) <ref name=bbc /> * [[Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album|Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional World Music Album]] for ''Live At Couleur Café'' (2008) <ref>{{cite web |title=50th Annual GRAMMY Awards {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/50th-annual-grammy-awards?cat=716 |website=GRAMMY.com |publisher=The Recording Academy |access-date=26 February 2025 |date=10 February 2008}}</ref>

== Discography ==

===Albums=== *''Lubuaku'' (Terp, 2004) *''[[Congotronics]]'' ([[Crammed Discs]], 2004) *''Live at Couleur Café'', (Crammed Discs, 2007) *''[[Assume Crash Position]]'', (Crammed Discs, 2010) *''Konono Nº1 Meets Batida'', (Crammed Discs, 2016)<ref name=":0" /> * ''Where's The One'' by Congotronics International, the supergroup consisting of Konono N°1, [[Kasai Allstars]], [[Juana Molina]], [[Deerhoof]], [[Skeletons (band)|Skeletons]], [[Wildbirds & Peacedrums]] and [[Vincent Kenis]], [[Crammed Discs]] (2022)

===Compilations=== *''Zaire: Musiques Urbaines a Kinshasa'' ([[Ocora]] 559007, recorded 1978, released 1987)<ref name=zaire /> *''Congotronics 2'' (Crammed Discs, contains one track by Konono Nº1) *''The Congotronics Vinyl Box Set'' (Crammed Discs, 2010; limited-edition box set containing Konono Nº1's ''[[Congotronics]]'' and ''Assume Crash Position'', also ''Congotronics 2'', albums by [[Kasai Allstars]] and [[Staff Benda Bilili]] and a collaboration between [[Kasai Allstars]] and [[Akron/Family]]) *''Kinshasa 1978'', (Crammed Discs, 2019); Includes an original track recorded in 1978, and a remix made in 2019 by [[Martin Meissonnier]], alongside tracks by three other Kinshasa bands)

===Tributes=== *''Tradi-Mods vs Rockers: Alternative Takes on Congotronics'' (Crammed Discs, 2010; double CD containing cover versions, reworks and tributes to the music of Konono N°1 and [[Kasai Allstars]] by 26 alternative rock and electronic artists)

== See also == *[[Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]]

== References == {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name=afropop>{{cite web|title=The Congotronics Story |url=http://www.afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/596/The+Congotronics+Story |publisher=Afropop |access-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926232423/http://www.afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/596/The%2BCongotronics%2BStory |archive-date=26 September 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=allaboutjazz>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-imagine-project-herbie-hancock-herbie-hancock-music-review-by-john-kelman |author=John Kelman|title=The Imagine Project |publisher=All About Jazz |date= June 21, 2010 |access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

<ref name=bbc>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/a4wm2006/a4wm_konono.shtml BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music, Newcomer, 2006].</ref>

<ref name=cvs>Caspar Llewellyn Smith, [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/13/congotronics-v-rockers-barbican-review "Congotronics vs Rockers – review"], ''The Guardian'', July 13, 2011.</ref><ref name=cvs2>Kevin E. G. Perry, [http://thequietus.com/articles/06563-congotronics-vs-rockers-interview "A New Language In Music: Congotronics vs Rockers Interviewed"], The Quietus, July 11, 2011.</ref>

<ref name=cvs3>Tom Breihan, [http://pitchfork.com/news/42019-deerhoof-juana-molina-wildbirds-peacedrums-more-team-with-congotronics-for-tour-album/ "Deerhoof, Juana Molina, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, More Team With Congotronics for Tour, Album. Congotronics Vs. Rockers unites Congolese musicians with indie artists"], Pitchfork, March 28, 2011.</ref>

<ref name=mawangu>{{cite web|title=Konono No 1 founder Mingiedi Mawangu dies aged 85|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/17/konono-no-1-founder-mingiedi-mawangu-dies-aged-85|work=The Guardian|date=17 April 2015|access-date=18 April 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=zaire>{{cite web|title=Various – Zaïre: Musiques Urbaines À Kinshasa|url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-Za%C3%AFre-Musiques-Urbaines-Kinshasa/release/2428543|publisher=Discogs|access-date=19 April 2015}}</ref> }}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301141644/http://crammed.be.dd5126.kasserver.com/index.php?id=34&art_id=77 Konono Nº1] page at Crammed Discs *[http://www.popmatters.com/music/concerts/k/konono-no1-051117.shtml Review of November 17, 2005 show at SOB's, New York] by Andrew Phillips, PopMatters.com, December 9, 2005 *[[Alexis Petridis]], [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/apr/04/popandrock1 "'Assume crash position' That's how Congo punk-meets-techno band Konono No 1 translate their name. It couldn't be more appropriate"], ''The Guardian'', April 4, 2006. *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/world/albums/az/ Review: Konono No. 1, Congotronics], [[BBC World]] site. Retrieved April 4, 2005. *[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5150198 Makeshift and Polished: Konono No. 1]. [[World Cafe (radio program)|World Cafe]] from [[WXPN]]. [[National Public Radio]]. *[http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051125/ENT03/511250321/1129/ENT ''Honolulu Advertiser''], November 2005 Review.

=== Listening === *[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5488675 Story from NPR ''Weekend Edition'' radio program], June 18, 2006

=== Video === *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060117190314/http://www.crammed.be/craworld/movies/konono_promo.htm Konono promotional video], Crammed Discs website.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Konono N1}} [[Category:1966 establishments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] [[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo musical groups]] [[Category:Grammy Award winners]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1966]] [[Category:Musicians from Kinshasa]] [[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo electronic musicians]]