ABOUT ROCAFILJAZZ REBIRTH

BACKGROUND

Rocafiljazz band was a music group founded by Prince Nico Mbarga in the mid 60’s the group had their first success with their second single, I no go marry my papa, which was recorded in 1973 by EMI records and became a regional hit, their second success was in1976 when they recorded sweet mother with Rogers all-stars and sold about thirteen million copies worldwide.

Mbarga and his Rocafiljazz band played an important role in the evolution of African popular hi-life music, with his soulful vocals set to the light melodies of his electric guitar, Mbarga created a distinctive fusion of Igbo and Congolese guitar play and uplifting highlife rhythms.

In 1979 Mbarga and his Rocafil jazz band went on a tour in London, playing at venues like St. Pancras Town Hall and the African Centre, the members of RocafilJazz complained that they were underpaid, as a result, the mood soured.

As a result, while they were planning a trip to Japan, unable to agree on their percentages, Rocafil disbanded. Though they later re-formed and changed members, but the band could not gather the same momentum.

However, after a ten-year break, (1986-1995) the original band was back together for a 50-state tour of the U.S. while preparing for the tour, Mbarga was on his way to pick up visas in Calabar, his car ran out of fuel, due to the fuel scarcity that occurred that period, so he hopped on an okada (motorbike taxi) to complete the journey, few minutes on the bike, he was thrown off by a car.

In the hospital for two weeks, Mbarga gave up after series of medical surgeries. But before he gave up, he wished that Rocafiljazz will continue the work he had prepared them to do all over the world, even if he could not make it out of the hospital bed.

Since 1997 when Mbarga died, it took up a whole period of twenty years and yet no one stepped up to fulfil his wish, it was on that note that one of his sons, (Nico Mbarga jnr.) stepped up to the task of wearing his late father’s shoes to fulfil his wish.

Nico Mbarga jnr. stepped up to this task after finishing his university studies and painstakingly undergoing thorough music training, and understudying his father’s Panco music style for over a decade, no wonder till date, no known guitarist can boast of replicating the scales and chord signatures of Prince Nico Mbarga’s guitar lines apart from Nico Mbarga jnr. who is continually still working on his father’s ninety-nine (99) recorded songs.

MISSION  

To rebirth the lost Rocafiljazz after decades of its demise

VISION 

To fulfil the last wish of Prince Nico Mbarga, of preaching the gospel of love and peaceful coexistence in families and society as contained in his music and reaching out to humanity.

OBJECTIVES

Ø  To be a major facilitating instrument of Nico Mbarga Sweet Mother Foundation

Ø  To rebirth Rocafiljazz and Prince Nico Mbarga’s music message

Ø  To re-record the almost forgotten songs of Rocafiljazz

Ø  To kick-off a campaign for positive music lyrics

Ø  To consolidate on Mbarga’s legacy

STRUCTURE

The Rocafiljazz rebirth is directed by Nico Mbarga jnr. who is the official music director.

The band is constituted of the following musicians:

Ø  three vocalists,

Ø  one pianist,

Ø  two guitarist,

Ø  one bassist,

Ø  one drummer,

Ø  three percussionists