Ask Africans immigrants in the Twin Cities about George “Jojo” Ndege, and they will probably tell you about the dance parties he used to host “back in the day.” Maybe they will say that he is an amazing chef, who runs Tamu Grill, a restaurant and catering company he started a few years ago. And others may tell you they know him from KFAI radio, where he cohosts an music show called African Rhythms.
What many people might not know, however, is that Jojo recently added “author” to his long resume. On Friday March 7, he will launch a book he wrote about the history of rumba music.
“Most of you know me as a chef, but I am also a music enthusiast,” said Jojo, who was born in Kenya.
He said he wrote Rumba Evolution when he found himself with a lot of time due to the lockdown that followed the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Although the book has been available for sale in places like Amazon since it was published in 2021, Jojo said he never got a chance to do a proper launch because soon after publishing it he opened Tamu Grill, which took most of his time. Now that his restaurant and catering business is off the ground, he is ready to launch and promote his book, he said. But Jojo said it is not going to be a typical book launch party.
“This is not going to be a boring book launch,” he said. “Get ready to dance.”
The event, which will be held at The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, will begin with a fireside chat about the Rumba Evolution with Mshale’s Edwin Okong’o. It will also feature live performances by various musical artists including Shalita (Uganda and Tanzania), Diatoti (Congo), Bandasson (Kenya), and Innocent (Tanzania), all of whom are accomplished African musicians based in Minnesota. DJ Salif Keita, Jojo’s cohost on African Rhythms, a show on KFAI Radio, will also be present.
“Between the live bands and DJ music, the night promises lots of fun and dancing,” Jojo said. “This is very special to me and the evening will be even more special with your attendance.”
Rumba Evolution is a captivating book about a type of music that unwillingly left Africa in slave ships, went to Cuba, then spread to the rest of the world before returning home to Africa as the Congolese rumba music we know and love today. Sometimes called Lingala or Soukouss music, it is now a global phenomenon with superstars such as Franco, Tabuley, Kanda Bongoman, Koffi Olomide, Fally Ipupa, and many more.
Copies of book will be available for sale at the event, and Jojo will sign them for those who purchase.
“It will indeed be a Rumba Evolution party,” Jojo said.
For more information and tickets, visit The Cedar Cultural Center.
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