CEFA
CEFA means Compagnie d'Enregistrement du Folklore Africain.
Belgian Congo later Democratic Republic of the Congo rumba label, created and run in 1953 by a German, a certain mister Laetz, and the Belgian Jean Drossart. The famous Belgian guitar player Bill Alexandre was launched as A&R man.
In 1955 the label was bought by Fonior.
Initially shellac 10" records were pressed with a blue font (mostly) on the bottom parts of the label, called the "blue labels".
7" editions : Congo releases that were sometimes licensed to other African countries, or picked up by the French "African" label for reissue :
- "Blue labels" : same font look as the shellac 10". The first releases only have a 3-digit catalogue number (example Orchestre T.P.O.K. Jazz - Mbanda Na Memeli Yo Kuruse / Ngai Responsable Na Yo). These were followed by releases with "CF. and the 3-digit number" (example Ganga Edo, Orchestre T.P.O.K. Jazz - Oyo Nde Zoba ? / Yaka Lisusu) that subsequently in most cases received a reissue to be differentiated with these characteristics : "CEFA and the 3-digit number" (example De La Lune, Orchestre T.P.O.K. Jazz - Ngala Nabino Ekosila), only BIEM as right owner, no "Made In Congo" mention, and notification of "Série O.K. Jazz", Léo B.P. 433 (Léopoldville, early name of Kinshasa), "Fo followed by "45/" and 4 later 5 digits" (the Fonior lacquer numbers making it possible in a later stage to identify the release year). The "blue labels" 3-digit catalogue numbers start with a 2.
- "Yellow labels" : 3-digit catalogue numbers start with a "1".
- "Green labels" : 3-digit catalogue numbers start with a "3".
- "Purple labels" : 3-digit catalogue numbers start with a "5". In most cases these received a reissue to be differentiated with these characteristics : "CEFA and the 3-digit number" (example L'Orchestre Bantou Jazz, Jean Serge Essous - Guajira / Oguy Na Fort Rousset), only BIEM as right owner, no "Made In Congo" mention, and notification of "Série Bantou Jazz", "Fo followed by "45/" and 4 later 5 digits" and also "Brazza Ville" to be seen on the labels.
- "Red labels" : catalogue numbers start with a "C" (Orchestre Cobantou), "D" (Orchestre Diamant Bleu), "LBS" (Orchestre L'Os Backy), "J" (Orchestre Jamel), "CA" (Orchestre Casanova), followed by 1 or 2 digits. The latter 2 have been seen with "/65" added to the catalogue number (example Tony, Bijou Emma, Orchestre Jamel - Allelua Me).
Belgian Congo later Democratic Republic of the Congo rumba label, created and run in 1953 by a German, a certain mister Laetz, and the Belgian Jean Drossart. The famous Belgian guitar player Bill Alexandre was launched as A&R man.
In 1955 the label was bought by Fonior.
Initially shellac 10" records were pressed with a blue font (mostly) on the bottom parts of the label, called the "blue labels".
7" editions : Congo releases that were sometimes licensed to other African countries, or picked up by the French "African" label for reissue :
- "Blue labels" : same font look as the shellac 10". The first releases only have a 3-digit catalogue number (example Orchestre T.P.O.K. Jazz - Mbanda Na Memeli Yo Kuruse / Ngai Responsable Na Yo). These were followed by releases with "CF. and the 3-digit number" (example Ganga Edo, Orchestre T.P.O.K. Jazz - Oyo Nde Zoba ? / Yaka Lisusu) that subsequently in most cases received a reissue to be differentiated with these characteristics : "CEFA and the 3-digit number" (example De La Lune, Orchestre T.P.O.K. Jazz - Ngala Nabino Ekosila), only BIEM as right owner, no "Made In Congo" mention, and notification of "Série O.K. Jazz", Léo B.P. 433 (Léopoldville, early name of Kinshasa), "Fo followed by "45/" and 4 later 5 digits" (the Fonior lacquer numbers making it possible in a later stage to identify the release year). The "blue labels" 3-digit catalogue numbers start with a 2.
- "Yellow labels" : 3-digit catalogue numbers start with a "1".
- "Green labels" : 3-digit catalogue numbers start with a "3".
- "Purple labels" : 3-digit catalogue numbers start with a "5". In most cases these received a reissue to be differentiated with these characteristics : "CEFA and the 3-digit number" (example L'Orchestre Bantou Jazz, Jean Serge Essous - Guajira / Oguy Na Fort Rousset), only BIEM as right owner, no "Made In Congo" mention, and notification of "Série Bantou Jazz", "Fo followed by "45/" and 4 later 5 digits" and also "Brazza Ville" to be seen on the labels.
- "Red labels" : catalogue numbers start with a "C" (Orchestre Cobantou), "D" (Orchestre Diamant Bleu), "LBS" (Orchestre L'Os Backy), "J" (Orchestre Jamel), "CA" (Orchestre Casanova), followed by 1 or 2 digits. The latter 2 have been seen with "/65" added to the catalogue number (example Tony, Bijou Emma, Orchestre Jamel - Allelua Me).