Samba Mapangala’s Race to Save The Mountain Gorilla

“Les Gorilles des Montagnes” an upbeat dance song commissioned by WWF to increase awareness of conservation in the Congo Basin, begins with the still-stunning, instantly recognizable a cappella prelude to his 1981 hit “Tolinga Virunga” (We Love Virunga). But then the beat drops into a beautiful new melody and lyrics telling of the need to preserve the rare mountain gorillas and their fragile environment, and expressing gratitude to the park rangers who risk their lives daily to prevent poaching and illegal charcoal production. WWF will use this music 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.
Adds Samba: “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.”

On Sept. 29, Samba made a personal appearance to launch the song at the International Conservation Council Forum bi-cameral hearing and reception on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, attended by representatives of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership member nations Burundi, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Congo-DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, and Rwanda.

DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF THE SONG

SAMBA MAPANGALA’S VIDEO ON AMBIANCE CONGO

Visit the World Wildlife Fund’s site for information on efforts to save the mountain gorillas