Orchestra Makassy is the melting pot that is East, Central and even some southern Africa rhythms'. Formed in Kampala Uganda in 1975, during its time in the sun, it attracted musicians from Zaire, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and southern Africa.
 
The groups founder was Mzee Makassy who was born in the early 1940s in a small Village east of Congo (then Zaire). He moved to Kampala in 1967 to attend college where for years he played at different venues in Kampala. With the little money he was making from this gigs, he managed to scramble together a few Zairians and some local Ugandan's in 1975 to form Orchestra Makassy.
 
Orchestra Makassy's stay in Kampala was short lived as the ascendance to power of Dictator Idi Amin Dada drove them into Exile ending up in Tanzania.
 
The seventies was a period when the east mostly Europe began showing great Interest in African Music. They needed a hub to come and buy or witness this great sounds from the wilderness. Kenya's Capital Nairobi just so happened to be the Lucky "City in the Sun" As tourists poured in to enjoy Kenya's wildlife so did Music recording equipment.
 
With such a great setting, Nairobi began attracting Musicians not only from Zaire and Uganda but also from Neighboring Tanzania (Tanganyika).
Orchestra Makassy was no different. With its great sounds and a ready audience for Swahili lyrics in Kenya, orchestra Makassy led by Kitenzogu Mzee Makassy were bound for the City in the Sun.
 
Just like in its days in Kampala, Orchestra Makassy picked up some "human dust" in Dar es Salam as well. Some of the great voices picked up included the famous Remmy Ongala(Makassy’s nephew), Mose Se Senga (Fan Fan), Tshimanga Assossa among others. While a member of Makassy, Remy Ongala wrote his first hit song, "Sika Ya Kufa" (The Day I Die)," honoring a friend who had passed away.
 
With the above crew assembled tucked in their shiny Belly Bottoms and matching Platform shoes, it was game on. Super Mazembe, Orchestra Matimila..Bring it on.....
 
Orchestra Makassy signed with AIT Records (Kenya) and recorded some of their great music around this time. Among them was one of their famous hit ”Agwaya”, produced by Norman Mighell, with Virgin in 1982. It has since been reproduced on CD "Legends of East Africa ORCHESTRA MAKASSY" The CD does not Include all the originals though. My assumption is some of them were damaged.
 
Track Listing:
 
1. Mambo Bado (Swahili) (Tshimanga Assossa / Kitenzogu Makassy) - 5:23
 
2. Zimbabwe (Shona) (Kitenzogu Makassy) - 4:57
 
3. Kufulisika Sio Kilema (Swahili) (Athurani Kindya) - 5:05
 
4. Nakolela Cherie (Lingala) (Kitenzogu Makassy) - 5:36
 
5. Mosese (Lingala) (Mose Fan Fan / Kitenzogu Makassy) - 4:31
 
6. Athumani (Swahili) (Athurani Kindya) - 4:05
 
7. Mke Wangu (Swahili) (Osenga Batty / Kitenzogu Makassy) - 5:13
 
8. Molema (Lingala) (Mose Fan Fan / Kitenzogu Makassy) - 5:25
 
9. Ubaya Wa Nini (Swahili) (Mzee Makassy) - 4:09
 
10. Muungano (Swahili) (Mzee Makassy) - 5:11
 
11. Mume Wangu (Swahili) (Osenga Batty/Ongala Remmy/Mzee Makassy) - 6:19
 
 
 
Orchestra Makassy also released a single with their hit song "Mambo Bado" on side A and "Nakolela Cherie" on Side ‘B’. "Muziki Ocehestre Makassy" another good LP was released In 1984.
 
Soon after the LP was released the band fell apart. Remy Ongala's tenure with Orchestra Makassy lasted about three years. He then left to join Orchestre Super Matimila, another up and coming Tanzanian Band. Mose Se Fan Fan formed his own splinter group and most of the other members were cannibalized by other bands