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Friday, March 29, 2024

Beauty among ashes

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A well-kept secret is spreading like wild fire in Kinshasa, Congo. One of the poorest places in the world, it’s rare to find a droplet of hope.

Those flames are produced from the glorious tunes of the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste (OSK) with more than 200 musicians and vocalists, who had no formal musical training. They are the only orchestra in central Africa and the only all-Black symphony in the world.

They are that representation of beauty in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Armand Diangienda, affectionately known as “Papa Armand,” is an award-winning and world-renowned conductor, who started the orchestra after his plans of being a pilot went hiatus. In the beginning Papa Armand had no musicians, vocalists, instruments, or teachers – just 15 people with the dream to create beautiful music.

Today he is amazed at how big the orchestra is and the recent spark in recognition. Rumors of this movement began in 2010 when German filmmakers decided to film a documentary entitled “Kinshasa Symphony.” The movie is about the Congo, the people of Kinshasa and about music.

Papa Armand recently received the inaugural Charles Ansbacher “Music for All” Award from Boston. This week he will also obtain the key to the city from Jane Gehlhausen, director of international and cultural affairs, on behalf of Mayor Gregory A. Ballard. These rewards represent a token of the peace, joy, love and tolerance sprouting in a war-torn and poverty stricken country all because of music.

The Recorder was able to sit down with Papa Armand and speak with him about music, tolerance and the future of Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste.

How did the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste begin?

I found myself unemployed and it’s difficult to find a job in the Congo. Years before my father told me to start a band because my friends and I would practice music. The idea came to me once again and I decided to start an orchestra. We started off just teaching people how to play. At first we only had a limited amount of instruments, and people had to practice in a rotation. Now the instruments are either donated, created or refurbished. These people are not musicians they come from various backgrounds. Some are physicians, tailors or sell goods in the city market. They do not get compensation for playing in the orchestra. They range from ages 14 to mid-50s. They just have a hunger and love for music.

I understand that you have history in music. How did this come about?

I grew up in a religious household. My grandfather is Simon Kimbangu, who was the founder of one of the largest independent churches in Africa. I would always listen to the choir and music at church. My father played the piano and taught me a little about it. I’ve always been a curious person and attracted to different instruments. I play the cello, guitar, piano, trombone, drums, trumpet and a little saxophone and flute. I’m self-taught. All you have to do is tell me what the instrument can do and I can go home and learn it that day. In fact once before a concert I didn’t know what instrument I wanted to play. I asked a friend how to tune up a cello, he explained it to me and I’ve been playing it ever since.

The conditions in Africa are much different than America and so are the arenas. How difficult is it to play in ill-stricken conditions?

It’s difficult but we work through it. We don’t have the proper facilities to even practice. My home is used to practice. Every room has someone learning to play or practicing an instrument. My wife tells me all the time that I have no privacy except in my own room. The kitchen is even filled with people. If people come late they have to leave because my house is too full. It’s funny because we play classical music, which is mostly soft, but sometimes with the loud noise outside we have to play louder. We even have to negotiate with people outside and ask them not to interfere. We play in various places that don’t even have the sound quality to play an instrument in.

You’ve been criticized for playing the “white man’s music.” How have you moved past that negativity?

We teach my grandfather’s teachings of love, respect, obeying the laws and tolerance. We are showing something positive. When people think of Africa, they think of misery and poverty. We would like to send out a different message. People have approached us because we play the white man’s music, but we send a message of acceptance, sharing and wanting to move forward. Those messages drive our people. We are using this classical music to learn and then we add our own African flavor. We just hope when people listen that it takes them to Africa without physically going. Why not play Beethoven and add our own African soul to it?

Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste is known to bring joy and healing not only to the people behind the music, but the Congo and the world. Can you explain that healing process?

This is not only music it teaches discipline. It teaches them to be a good team player and to be a part of something bigger than themselves. We are people who pray often. I always say singing is praying twice. Through our music we are providing the message of love for one another, peace, justice amongst others. The documentary “Kinshasa Symphony” shed some light on this. We have all these images showing the Congo collapsing, but not everything is. At the end the film, it shows the orchestra playing the “Ninth Symphony (Ode of Joy)” by Beethoven. They are playing and showing they can overcome any issues or suffering. We may have sadness, but we can turn it into hope. Not everything is lost (in the Congo) and we can work together to come out of these conditions. We are passionate about our country and music. If we didn’t have this passion it wouldn’t still be here after 18 years.

What is on the horizon for the orchestra?

We are teaching the younger ones so they can replace the ones leaving the country to seek a better life or those getting too old or busy. Everything is still happening at my home and we would like to build a school for kids and adults to come and learn properly this time. We would like to travel outside of Kinshasa and travel to different places in Africa, Europe and even the United States. We hope to produce tracks someday as well. We have written three original songs and will continue to do so.

Is there anything you would like to add to this interview Papa Armand?

I have told my story. Hopefully from our story people can learn to instill the message of peace, joy and the messages of my grandfather. This is not a message limited to a particular group of people. The time has come for people to listen to one another. Maybe then we would have a tolerance for each other.

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