After Franco's Departure

Following Franco's death, the body was flown back home accompanied by family and band members. Because Franco was so much ingrained into the fabric of society, many Zaireans mourned his death more than they would that of a blood relative. Thousands of mourners massed the airport as the hearse arrived and many more lined the streets of Kinshasa to watch as the hearse which was now covered in the national flag passed through the streets escorted by a parade of Police cars.

The government declared 4 days of mourning. In the following days, Voix du Zaire, the national radio service played nothing but an overdose of Franco songs 24 hours a day. Finally on October 17 Franco was lowered to his final resting-place.

Following Franco's death, current as well as former TPOK Jazz members teamed up to produce an album in tribute to Franco, titled Hommage A Luambo Makiadi. An album which had been recorded prior to Franco's death and featured two songs( Anjela and Tawaba) by Ndombe Opetum was released. Josky followed this up with his own hit album featuring the hit Chandra. Madilu had now adopted the sobriquet Madilu Multisysteme Le Grande Ninja, Josky was now referred to as le Commerndant de Boarde. The band was still going strong and all seemed well. In 1991 they embarked on a tour of Kenya which was well received by crazed Kenyan fans. However at the end of the last concert after having been paid by the promoters, they were conned out of the entire loot by an unknown middleman. They vowed never to visit Kenya again.

Then the trouble started. Madilu released his own album outside the Ok Jazz system. The album titled Na pokwa Ya Lelo(in the evening of today) featured up tempo versions of some of his earlier songs and was a huge success. The rest of the band members were not amused and Madilu was suspended for six months. He opted to leave the band and pursue a solo career. Months later the band members ran into a disagreement with members of Franco's family in particular his sister Marie Louise. The family was demanding an unreasonable share of the band's revenue. The band members could not comply with their demands and opted to form another band which they named Bana OK. (people of OK).

This spelled the end of the great TPOK Jazz after 36 years of huge success. Bana Ok have continued to record and stage concerts all over Africa and Europe with a reasonable amount of success. They have however not reached the heights of success, which they enjoyed during the Franco era.

Bana OK has since experienced a further split following the departure of Malage de lugendo and Dizzy madjeku who led others in forming a new band named OK International. A new version of TPOK Jazz under the leadership of Youlou Mabialla has also come into existence. Youlou says that the fact that Franco himself nicknamed him the Prince means that He expected him to carry forward the name of the band.

Under the leadership of Lutumba Simmarro, Bana OK have are still going strong. Among the CDs they have released include Tonerre show which was collaboration with Pepe Kalle and Trahison which featured vocals by Koffi Olomide. More recently they have released CDs such as Toucher Jouer and Dernier,Avertissement(last warning) which features a shorter, faster rendition of Josky's 1979 mega-hit Propetaire. If I were to vote for the song of the year 1999, The track Wany by Simmarro in that album would win hands down. The song features excellent vocals by Opetum , Shakembo and Serge Kiambukuta , augmented by outstanding guitar stringing by Simmarro and Gerry. Solo guitarist, Gerry Dialungana has ably taken over Franco's position as lead guitarist. New recruits to the band include Makosso and Shakembo whose silken voice is reminiscent of the Late Djo Mpoyi. While still remaining faithful to the Rhumba Odemba originated by Franco , Bana OK have switched from the traditional intro-song-sebene format to a single speed format , more in tune with the times. Their latest album is labeled Ingratitude

Bana OK musicians have also collaborated with several prominent musicians. In 1997 Josky joined up with Koffi Olomide to produce the hit album Ngounda.