Opika was an early record label in the Congo, which recorded and promoted African pop, guitar, and rumba - not only from the Congo, but from Cameroon and Ghana as well.Gabriel Moussa Benetar and Joseph Benetar (en).The label also gave rise to the careers of many early rumba stars in the Congo, such as Jhimmy and Paul Mwanga. The label was the first to sign Joseph Kabaselle who, along with other Opika session players Nico and Déchaud formed the band African Jazz, which contributed heavily to the evolving Latin-style Congolese rumba. The name Opika was chosen in some sense as a challenge to the reigning and monolithic recording house Ngoma that this new recording company was a force to be reckoned with. The company was initially called 'Kina,' but the name was subsequently changed to “Opika” from a phrase in Lingala, “opika pende” meaning “stand firm”. Started by brothers Gabriel Moussa Benetar and Joseph Benetar, from the Greek island of Rhodes, Opika was a prodigious producer of 78 rpm shellac recordings through the late 1950s. The label also recognized the value of ethnographic recordings, which were featured on a number of their releases. Wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and African themed snacks will be served. Jon Ward will be spinning a selection of African 78s. On November 6th, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm there will be a public reception with live DJ in the Library's Mary Cheadle Room (3rd Floor). Images of Africa is curated by David Tambo and Edward Fields, Special Collections staff member. David Tambo is the retired Head of Special Collections, who in his earlier days spent several years in Nigeria, first as a Peace Corps volunteer (1968-1970) and then doing dissertation-related field research (1975-1976).

The exhibition also contains items from the collection of David C. Included in the exhibition are maps, manuscripts, photographic collections, works by African writers, travelers’ narratives, oral histories, rare 78 rpm African records, and more.Ī listening kiosk with African music is installed as part of Images of Africa and features the CD Opika Pende, with 100 never-before-reissued 78 RPM recordings from 1909 to the 1960s. Images of Africa draws upon research materials in Special Collections by and about Africans over the past 400 years. UCSB Library’s Special Collections, which has long taken a global view in building its research collections, houses a wide range of rare, valuable, and unique items that explore the diversity of Africa.

When you think of Africa, what images come to mind? The Pyramids? Nelson Mandela? Maasai warriors? The Sahara Desert? Africa is a vast continent with a rich array of cultures, languages, religions, geography, and history.

Opika pende