GODFREY MANANGA CONDE

Born on 15 February 1970 in Kabinda, Angola

Instument: Lead Guitar

BIOGRAPHY

Godfrey was born on 15 February 1970 in Kabinda, Angola but he grew up in
Boma, DRC. He was born seventh from eight children.
Godfrey started playing the guitar at age 10 and he remembers fondly how his
uncle used to beat him (Godfrey) up when he found his guitar out of tune.
The love for music and the desire to have his own guitar, made him make his
own. So, Godfrey used pieces of wood and nylon strings to put guitars
together, only for his mother to break it into pieces.
Said Godfrey:" My mother thought she was killing his passion, but little did
she know she was heating it up."
At the age of 12, Godfrey started to play for his Roman Catholic Church band
and three years later he joined his school band. At age 18, Godfrey became a
member of the now famous Lafirenze band in the DRC. In the meantime, he
studied music for about six months at the National Institute of the Arts in
the DRC.
Other bands Godfrey played for includes Zaiko Langa Langa (DRC), Laviniora
Estatic (DRC) as well as Kambinda Stars and Bella Negra in Angola.

He came to Namibia at the end of 1995 and became the most used guitarist for
different bands. He played for Jesus Center Church as well as for the Osire
Stars and joined the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) studio band
named Telesa in 1997 with local musicians such as Willy Mbuende (guitarist)
and Gerson Dauseb (keyboardist).
He also played with Jay Malgas, D-Naff, Elton John and Simon Ndebelle,
Angolan-born group Impactus four as well as Eduardo Pain from Angola.

Godfrey singles out Dauseb as his role model in music, saying Dauseb opened
his mind to play different kinds of music. He also recalls how Mbuende used
to shout at him, when he (Godfrey) could not play Namibian music and only
Kwassa Kwassa and Kizomba.
And all that shouting paid off because; today Godfrey can play almost all
types of music and calls himself, the 'unlimited guitarist'.
Internationally, Godfrey draws inspiration from jazz artists George Benson
and Jimmy Dludlu. Through his music, Godfrey traveled to Germany and to
Mozambique.
Personally he likes jazz as well as Afro-Jazz and Reggae.
His love for Reggae music drew him to the Mighty Dreads band, which he
joined in 1999 as lead guitarist.

If he is not playing the guitar, Godfrey produces music for local artist in
his home studio called Vibra Sound Productions. He has produced a large
number of local artists but points out Shambo singer Tunakie as his best
production because she won four awards over four consecutive years.

His message to the youth is to play music for the international market.
Said Godfrey:" We must not just focus on home, we must go international." 
He added that young ones rely too much on computer generated sounds and that
will keep them in Namibia. He congratulated Elemotho, Ras Sheehama and
Jackson Kauyeua for going international and thinks the Mighty Dreads,
Formula band have the potential for going global