PIQUE NEWSmagazine, Whistler BC
July 7, 2000

Mighty Popo mixes Burundi with the blues

By Paul Andrew
WHO: The Mighty Popo
WHERE: The Boot Pub
WHEN: July 10

While scanning the bio-sheet for Ottawa's newest world beat artist, who goes by the stage name The Mighty Popo, I was also listening to his Caribbean reggae and African roots music CD when I saw that Popo had toured with Dutch Mason, the Prime Minister of the blues, in 1997.

Is it just me, or is there something a little off kilter there?

There was also a note from 1998 that has Popo rated as one of Canada's "most sought after blues guitarists," and that Popo's bosstones "light up bluesfest '99." Yet, what was emanating from my computer's speakers was a healthy mix of African word beat and spiritual, new-age compositions. It's all good, but it sure ain't the blues.

"Yeah, they're probably referring to my blues past," Popo said from T.O. last week. "All of that's based on my blues playing, which I did pretty much up to 1998. It really depends on the club I'm playing. But this album, Dunia Yote, is pretty much all world beat music. The last one, Tamba, was 90 per cent blues and 10 per cent reggae/world beat."

Immigrating to Canada in 1987 and becoming a professional musician almost immediately meant that Popo, 34, (born Jacques Murigande) had to play whatever was popular to make a living. Which explains his blues connection, and the following he generated performing the blues for almost 10 years. But he says he never forgot about this homeland and the music that goes with it.

"I like the blues, but as a musician, you need something to excite you. I take the music from my place in Africa, Burundi, and also from Zimbabwe. It's very similar influences. But there is no 'live' music in Burundi nightclubs, only DJs. The best music they play on the street, but it's for free. There is no live entertainment in the clubs. Very little, if any."

Popo's voice equals his immense instrumental ability. Standouts for me on this 10-track disc are Urwibtuso ("Remembrance") and the 27-second intro called Karibu. "Remembrance" has an African native sound that you might expect from a gifted tribal singer who doesn't know how good he is. Hand drums, horns and other percussion instruments fill up the sound. The whole 5:10 of this tune carries a slow and methodical rhythm, and as a result, it's almost meditative in its sound. On the other hand, Karibu sounds East Indian in its origin.

"World beat means music from all over the world so I listen to all music. I'll use much more than the blues and African influence, but it is mostly African."

Most reggae and world beat musicians mix a message of world peace between the strong rhythms and colorful harmonies, and The Mighty Popo is no exception. But he warns Africans eager to emigrate to Canada that it is also a struggle in Canada, but in a different way.

"Western countries, back home, are promoted as a paradise," Popo said. "So when you find the opportunity, you just get up and go. It's not a paradise (in Canada), but at least you can walk the streets safely and express your opinion. Freedom of expression will get you killed in Africa.

"Peace is an over used term but you are right, there is a strong message of peace in my music. When I say peace though, I mean peace. It has a very deep meaning. Just like when people say 'friend' to everybody they see, but they don't mean it because it has a very deep, real meaning.

"But this is the direction my music is now moving. I can't put blues and world beat in the same album, it's very difficult and promoters don't know what to do with it. But who knows, when you're an artist, you don't know where you will go. I learn all the time."