
Mermans Mosengo
Upon his arrival to South Africa from Congo in 1998, Mermans joined the Young Bakuba Band as a drummer and bass guitar player. After a year in the band he found that his independence and musical style were being limited and so he branched out on his own as a solo artist in 1999. He was soon in high demand doing solo gigs at various Cape Town venues, however, he decided that he preferred a band set-up and assembled what is now a highly regarded multi-cultural band, Afro Fiesta.
How we met:
Our first night in Cape Town we went to eat supper at a restaurant called Mama Africa on Long Street in the center of town. Throughout our meal we heard vibrant sounds of African music coming from the other room and were seduced. During the band's set break we introduced ourselves and talked with Mermans, the band's leader, about our project and he immediately was in unison with us. We set a time to meet the next day to film and record their music.
Related Videos

One Love | Song Around The World

War/No More Trouble | Song Around The World

A Better Place | Song Around The World

Words Of Wonder/ Get Up Stand Up | Song Around The World

Take Me Home, Country Roads | Song Around The World

Listen to The Music | Song Around The World

Natural Mystic/Just a Little Bit | Song Around The World

Congo to the Mississippi | Song Around The World

"Soul Rebel" featuring Bunny Wailer & Manu Chao | Song Around The World

"Mama Africa" featuring Andrew Tosh & I-Taweh | Song Around The World

Get Up Stand Up 2020 | Song Around The World

Singing on the Bus | Playing For Change Band | Behind the Scenes

Playing For Change Band Live | Documentary

Backstage with the Playing For Change Band and Joss Stone

Up and Close with Mermans Mosengo

Duppy Conqueror | Afro Fiesta | Live

Reggae Got Soul | Playing For Change Band | Live

Bibamba | Playing For Change Band | Live in New York

I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free | Live Outside

Johnny B. Goode | Playing For Change Band | Live in Goiânia

Strong Enough | Sophia Scott | Live Outside

Get Up Stand Up 2020 | Song Around The World (members only version)

Rolling Stone/Prisoner | Afro Fiesta featuring I-Taweh | Live Outside

Rasta Children | Playing For Change Band | Live

African Queen | Afro Fiesta | Live Outside

Playing For Change Band Live at Showlivre

Three Little Birds | Afro Fiesta & Twanguero

Redemption Song | Ziggy Marley | Playing For Change Band | Live

Iko Iko | Song Around The World (members only version)

Mado | Afro Fiesta | Mark's Park

Stop That Train | Afro Fiesta feat. Twanguero & I-Taweh | Mark's Park

Bring It On Home To Me | Shemekia Copeland & Afro Fiesta | Mark's Park

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) | Ellis Hall & the Playing For Change Band | Live

Mark's Park EP1: Rumba Night featuring Afro Fiesta

Mark’s Park EP3: Blues Night featuring Shemekia Copeland

Knockin' on Heaven's Door | Afro Fiesta feat. Twanguero & I-Taweh | Mark's Park

Equal Rights | Afro Fiesta | Live Outside

Feliz Navidad | Playing For Change Band | Live Outside

Mellow Mood | Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba | Live Outside

Together Forever | Baby Ndombe, Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba | Live Outside

Low Down Dirty Christmas | Playing For Change Band | Live Outside

Trenchtown Rock | Mermans Mosengo, Jason Tamba, Roberto Luti and Paulo Heman | Live Outside

Marie | Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba | Live Outside

Honky Tonk Women | Keb' Mo' and Mermans Mosengo | Live Outside

Time Tough | Afro Fiesta and Friends | Live Outside

Rivers of Babylon | Rocky Dawuni, Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba | Live Outside

Stuck On You | Mermans Mosengo | Live Outside

Babylon | Los Pinguos | Playing For Change Records

Independence Cha Cha | Afro Fiesta | Live Outside

Mr. Bobby | Afro Fiesta, I-Taweh and Twanguero | Live Outside

Maria | Afro Fiesta | Live Outside

Turn Your Lights Down Low | Mermans Mosengo, Sophia Scott, and Twanguero | Live Outside

Beauty in the Flaws | Sophia Scott | Live Outside

I Shot The Sheriff | Mermans Mosengo & Ali Boulala | Live Outside

Nda | Jason Tamba | Playing For Change Band

Back to Your Roots | Playing For Change Band | Live in Vancouver

The Playing For Change Band Visits Playing For Change Foundation School in Brazil | Playing For Change Band

One Love | Playing For Change Band | Live in Madrid

A Change Is Gonna Come | Playing For Change Band | Live in Folsom

I've Got Dreams to Remember | Toots Hibbert | Playing For Change Band | Live

Imidiwan Afrik Tendam | Playing For Change Band and Friends Live

Don't Worry | Playing For Change Band Live in Vancouver

Felangaye | Playing For Change Band | Live in Los Angeles

Talkin' Bout A Revolution | Afro Fiesta | Live in the studio

When the Music Comes Around | Playing For Change | Live in Goiânia

Stand By Me (Tribute to Japan) | Playing For Change Band

Blind Man | Playing For Change Band | Live in Folsom

Fannie Mae | Playing For Change Band | Live in Australia

Behind The Song: "Congo to the Mississippi"

Behind The Song: "The Weight" (Part 2)

Teach Your Children | Playing For Change | Live in Australia

Pata Pata | Playing For Change Band | Live at Apogee Studios

Jah Guide | Playing For Change Band | Live in Australia

Prisoner | Afro Fiesta | Live

Matinda | Playing For Change Band | Live in Brazil

With Afro Fiesta in Cape Town, South Africa | Documentary

I´d Rather Go Blind | Playing For Change Band | Live in Australia

Yahamba | Playing For Change Band | Live in Australia

Stand By Me | Playing For Change Band | Live in Brazil

A Change Is Gonna Come | Playing For Change Band | Live in Brazil

Get Up Stand Up | Playing For Change Band | Live in Brazil

Playing For Change Band in Beirut: Behind the Scenes

When You Come Back | Playing For Change Band Live featuring Vusi Mahlasela

Back To Your Roots | Playing For Change Band | Live in Brazil

Young People | Afro Fiesta | Live

54-46 Was My Number | Playing For Change Band | Live in Brazil

Biko | Playing For Change Band | Live in New York

A Change Is Gonna Come | Playing For Change Band | Live in Los Angeles

Dixie Chicken | Little Feat with The Playing For Change Band | Live in Los Angeles

Black Water | The Doobie Brothers With The Playing For Change Band | Live in Los Angeles

That's What Love Will Make You Do | Playing For Change Band | Live in Australia

Feliz Navidad | Playing For Change Band | Live Outside in Brazil

Fannie Mae | Playing For Change Band | Live in Salvador

Run | Playing For Change Band | Live in Goiánia

Honky Tonk Women | Playing For Change Band | Live in Salvador

Blind Man | Playing For Change Band | Live in Goiânia

Cora | Playing For Change Band | Live in Goiânia

When The Music Comes Around | Playing For Change Band | Live at Showlivre

Right Foot Forward | Playing For Change Band | Live in Brazil

Me Pierdo | Playing For Change Band | Live in Brazil

Mark's Park EP7: West Africa Night featuring Biko & Arouna

Stand By Me | Playing For Change Band feat. Clarence Bekker | Live Outside

"Playing For Change" feat. Sara Bareilles, Chris Pierce & PFC Band | Song Around The World

"When The Levee Breaks" feat. John Paul Jones | Song Around The World

Land Of Dreams | Playing For Change Band | Mark's Park

Mark's Park EP8: World Music Night feat. Playing For Change Band

Many Rivers To Cross | Playing For Change Band | Live in Dubai

Pass It On | Playing For Change Band | Live in Dubai

Gimme Shelter | Playing For Change Band | Live in Dubai

Cakewalk Into Town ft. Taj Mahal | Playing For Change Band | Live in Byron Bay

Iko Iko | Playing For Change Band | Live in New Orleans

Mark’s Park EP10: A Night with John Cruz

Special Member Exclusive Set | John Cruz | Mark’s Park

The Real Revolution | PFC Band ft. Christian Bakalanga | Live Outside

Playing For Change Band | Live at Kate Wolf Music Festival

54-46 Was My Number | PFC Band ft. Toots Hibbert at Club Nokia | 20th Anniversary

Wish You Were Here | Afro Fiesta ft. Twanguero & I-Taweh | Live Outside

A Change Is Gonna Come | PFC Band Live in Australia | 20th Anniversary

The Journey of the PFC Band | 20th Anniversary

Storyland | Jason Tamba

Neria | Chris Bakalanga ft. Afro Fiesta | Live Outside

54-46 Was My Number | PFC Band ft. Toots Hibbert at Club Nokia

Celebration of Black History Month

Kwanumkwanu | Keturah | Mark's Park

Congo to the Mississippi | Playing For Change Band | Live in Australia

At This Point in My Life | Mermans Mosengo | Live Outside (Member Exclusive)

At This Point in My Life | Preview
