By PAUL CANTIN
Ottawa Sun
April 1997

Mighty has rhythm
Blues, Cajun and African pop influence Tamba

Local musician Jacques Murigande's story gives new meaning to The
term "music appreciation."

More than just providing a career or an artistic outlet, music was a salvation for Burtindi-born Murigande, who goes by the stage name The Mighty Popo, and releases his debut CD, Tamba, Saturday at Zaphod's.

"I found my home away from home in the Ottawa blues community" says Popo.
"I really have to thank them forever. That's what I do. Play music for them. I don't take anything for granted."

He arrived in Canada 10 years ago as a 19-year-old landed immigrant, alone, with $20 in his hand. In Burundi, he had fooled around with the guitar but instruments were so hard to come by he had to scrabble out chords on a five string axe.

"I started getting serious musical-ly a few months after I got here. I always wanted to be a musician, but I'm from parents that always want you to go to school. I went to school to please them. I wanted to play music," he says.

His first gigs were with reggae bands, but gradually he started attending blues gigs and jam sessions, and says the bulk of his craft was learned observing touring masters like B. B. King, Junior Wells, James Cotton and John Lee Hooker. A jam session with Canadian blues giant Dutch Mason led to a job in Mason's touring band, which led to further work as a supporting player

Blend of styles
"If you're a musician and people think you can play a little bit good, you make friends easily" Popo explains. His bond with the local music community would soon be put to the test, though.

Two years ago, as the situation in his homeland deteriorated, Popo turned to local players, who helped him stage charity concerts at The Rainbow and The Penguin. The $5,000 raised helped pay for air fare to bring his parents to safety in Canada.

"It was fun. I was in heaven. Musically it was just great," he recalls. "Trying to explain to my parents I was surviving playing music, they couldn't see it. When my mom saw me playing, she started crying."

His work as a sideman for other artists meant Popo was able to save money to make Tamba, a blend of blues, Cajun and African pop styles.

"It's all the same, if you check it out. If you check out the history of the blues, it is back in Africa. It's not to say I didn't have a lot of European influences.
"But when it all comes out, it is who I am. This is me."