Orchestra Massako Orchestra Massako

• Gnekelhe Mohi – Gnekelhe Mohi Ft Amara Touré
• Boungoumoune – Orchestre Massako

• 1. Gnekelhe Mohi – Gnekelhe Mohi Ft Amara Touré
• 2. Boungoumoune – Orchestre Massako
• 3. Dibembi – Orchestre Massako
• 4. Temedy – Temedy Ft Amara Touré

Analog Africa select key tracks from Gabon’s famous Orchestre Massako, the country’s national orchestra that was founded by the late Jean-Christian Mboumba Mackaya (a.k.a. Mack-Joss) in the early Seventies.

In 1971 Gabon armed forces decided to form their own band. Mack-Joss was recruited to become the band leader and this was the birth of Orchestre Massako which became Gabon’s national orchestra.

At the end of the 1970´s funds were made available to bring recording equipment over from France. Studio Mobile Massako was born and Mack-Joss’s songwriting ability provided hit after hit. The master tapes with the recordings were sent to Paris for mixing and Mack-Joss would personally make the journey to France, carrying the reels in his hand luggage. The vinyl records were then pressed in France and shipped back to Gabon.

Mack-Joss's retirement in 1996 marked the end of Orchestre Massako. With a four decades spanned career, his contribution to Gabonese culture cannot be overstated and continues to inspire the respect and devotion of people who knew him.