Théodore Dindo Mabeli (30 December 1955 – 23 August 2000), known professionally as Dindo Yogo, was a Congolese singer and musician. He was also called La Voix Cassée (the Broken Voice).[1]
In September 1981, with three other colleagues—guitarist Popolipo Zanguila, and fellow vocalists Djuna Djanana and "Espérant" Kisangani Djenga—Dindo Yogo left Papa Wemba's band (which was itself a sort of spin-off from Zaiko Langa Langa, or a member of the loose family of bands known as Clan Langa Langa). The four from Viva La Musica joined three musicians who had quit Zaiko Langa Langa—Evoloko Jocker, Djo Mali and Bozi Boziana—in forming the Langa Langa Stars. They formed that group under the patronage of music impresario Verckys Kiamuangana.[2]: 305–306
The Langa Langa Stars were described in 1988 as "one of the most productive of all the Zaiko offshoots."[3]: 204 They were popular and the quality of Dindo Yogo's "quavering voice" has been noted, for example on their song "Fleur Bakutu," but the band's structure with many established stars, known as the sept patrons (seven bosses), proved to be a failure, and the effects of its failure were worsened by the fact that Verckys contractually retained ownership of the band's instruments for its first four years.[2]: 310–311
In 1984, Dindo Yogo made another move, this time to Zaiko Langa Langa, following Popolipo who had made the same switch in March 1983.[2]: 310–311 During his time with Zaiko, he also recorded a number of solo albums. In 1988, when Zaiko split into Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei, under Bimi Ombale, and Zaiko Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka, under N'Yoka Longo, Dindo Yogo opted to side with the latter group.[2]: 346
In 1991, he left that band, and went solo definitively until his death in 2000.
He died in August 2000, after suffering a collapse in Kinshasa from long illness He was married twice, and had several children.[4]
Graeme Ewens, writing his obituary in The Guardian, evaluated Yogo as "one [of] those singers who moved people of all ages, social classes and ethnic allegiances with his plaintive, quivering voice, known as the voix cassé."[4]
Discography
Works
1985 Prix Nobel De La Paix 85 [or La Rock Star de Zaire]
1987 Luzolo
1987 Apres Leurs Tournées de Tokyo – Paris – Kinshasa
1993 Mukaji wani [or Groupe Ng Waka Aye "Mukaji Wani"]
1994 Willo Mondo & La Congolaise [a re-release on one CD of two 1985 records by different artists; it contains all four tracks from Dindo Yogo's Prix Nobel de la Paix 85, and the four tracks from King Kester Emeneya's (of Victoria Eleison) Willo Mondo][5][6]
1997 Laquelle Toi Choisir [or Laquelle toi choisir...? Oh la vie...!]
1997 Succès des années 70
1998 Soo Wa
2000 + d'Amour
(unknown year) Dindo Yogo [a re-release on CD of Ngwaka Ayé, Ayé Lisusu! plus two tracks from C'Est La Vie][7]
^ abcdStewart, Gary (2000). Rumba on the river: a history of the popular music of the two Congos. London. ISBN1-85984-744-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Graham, Ronnie (1988). The Da Capo guide to contemporary African music. New York: Da Capo Press. ISBN0-306-80325-9.
^ abEwens, Graeme (September 5, 2000). "Obituary: Dindo Yogo". The Guardian. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
