New song "Les Gorilles des Montagnes" calls for preservation of endangered mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park

Rumba maestro Samba Mapangala has released a new song campaigning for the protection of endangered mountain gorillas of the Congo's Virunga National Park.

"Les Gorilles des Montagnes" (The Mountain Gorillas) has been released in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

This is a timely hit coming out at a time when the whole world should be concerned about the climate change and its impact on the environment and wildlife.

Samba uses his sweet voice and rhythmic beats of Rumba to rally the support of the local authorities, local communities and international community in the preservation of the endangered mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park.

The concerned Samba is appealing to the world to recognise the importance of preserving these animals because of their great importance to biodiversity. They also have huge potential value for the national economy, he says.

"Les Gorilles des Montagnes" begins with the still-stunning, instantly recognizable a cappella prelude to Samba's 1981 hit "Tolinga Virunga" (We Love Virunga).

The beat soon drops into a beautiful new melody and lyrics telling of the need to preserve the rare mountain gorillas and their fragile environment.

Samba expresses gratitude to the park rangers who risk their lives daily to prevent poaching and illegal charcoal production.

The song was recorded in Swahili, the most commonly spoken language of the Virunga landscape. It is being distributed as a free resource in the Congo Basin where WWF hopes the message will take firm root as it spills out of local radio stations, in homes, at schools and on the streets.

WWF will use the song to reinforce its efforts in East Africa and Congo, especially in the Goma and Bukavu regions where years of war and turmoil have impacted the gorillas' habitat in the Virunga Mountains, home to around half of the world's remaining 700 mountain gorillas.

“Music is such a natural way to spread a message in Africa, and I’m thrilled with the positive and uplifting message Samba has created in "Les Gorilles des Montagnes," says Matthew Lewis, Senior Program Officer for African species conservation with WWF.

"I am so happy to be helping the WWF protect the wildlife and the environment of the beautiful Virunga Mountains, from where I took the name of my band Orchestre Virunga in 1980," says Samba.

The song came about when the World Wildlife Fund's department in charge of the Congo Basin approached Samba and asked him to write a song to raise awareness in the Virunga region about the need to protect the endangered mountain gorillas from poaching and environmental destruction through illegal charcoal production.

They chose Samba because of his long career and high regard in the East African music scene, and also because he named his band Orchestre Virunga after the volcano. The song was recorded in Los Angeles in mid-September.

It features ex-members of Tabu Ley’s Afrisa International including guitarist Huit Kilos and harmony vocalist Dodo Munoko.

It debuted on US radio station WRIR in Richmond Virginia on 27th September, KEXP in Seattle Washington on 28th September, and at the launching at the ICCF in Washington DC on 29th September, where Samba personally gave copies to the director of the Virunga National Park.

"Les Gorilles des Montagnes" is being offered as a free download at www.myspace.com/sambamapangala
The song will be included in an LP Samba is currently working on. There will also be a video coming out soon.
Please visit the WWF page about the song and for information on efforts to save the mountain gorillas: http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2009/WWFPresitem13791.html?intcmp=210

By Stephen Ogongo

"Les Gorilles des Montagnes" Lyrics (English)
Let’s protect our national park, our national park for the wildlife of Virunga
Let’s protect our mountain gorillas of the Virunga Mountains
We are grateful to the rangers of Virunga park
And all the workers and their good work of protecting the mountain gorillas
If you get food today, remember tomorrow that to cut trees without regard is not good
To hunt bushmeat is to destroy your means of subsistence
Our wildlife draws in tourists
They bring in money, money from tourism
Africa, welcome all tourists
Our gorillas, our gorillas, let’s protect them
 
Author/composer: Samba Mapangala © 2009
English translation by Matthew Lewis

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