Missa Luba (1967)

Delightful little album of the late Sixties which shows how, at least for one group of singers in the Congo, the ceremony of the Catholic Mass had fused with native songs.

So, while the arrangements feel, as the liner notes put it, “pure Congolese”, snatches of the Mass (see some of the Latin titles) can be detected. As interpretations of the Mass go, it’s really up there with Fauré’s Requiem.

1 Dibwe diamula kabanda

2 Lutuku & a bene kanyoka

3 Ebu bwale kemai

4 Katumbo

5 Seya wa mama ndalamba

6 Banana

7 Twai tshinaminai

8 Kyrie

11 Sanctus

12 Benedictus

13 Agnus dei