Records on Bana Moja turn up quite often, suggesting a widespread distribution system. But the records themselves give away nothing about the company itself: no dates, no PO box number, no copyright information.
Bana Moja, the band, was formed out of members of Orch Veve, led by Jojo Ikomo and Fataka Lokassa, who went to play in Uganda. The band disbanded in 1975 with several members moving to Kenya where they regrouped as Bana Ngenge but only lasted a year before splitting again. Bana Moja, the label, seems to have been created to release Bana Ngenge records and its name outlasted the band.
Proof that even the experts get it wrong sometimes is the fact that Bana 31 is miscatalogued in the British Library National Sound Archive, which lists the song title as Mobandi Pts 1 & 2.
Bana 4 Orch Revolo Likomba/Mokili
Bana 5 Orch Bella Mambo Renove Kalanda Pts 1 & 2
Bana 8 Orch Empire Bakuba Mokili Kalembe Pts 1 & 2
Bana 9 Orch Bana Ngenge Lobe-Lobe Pts 1 & 2
Bana 13 Orch Bana Ngenge Etisomba Pts 1 & 2
Bana 14 Orch Bana Ngenge Malanda Pts 1 & 2
Bana 16 Orch Empire Bakuba Naleli Pts 1 & 2
Bana 17 Orch Grand Piza Napemi Pts 1 & 2
Bana 18 Orch Semi Amor Amina/Futa Niongo
Bana 19 Orch Tout Mopia Tika Katonga Pts 1 & 2
Bana 20 Orch Festival du Zaire Kadioka Pts 1 & 2
Bana 21 Orch Tout Mopia Mokili Mayi Ya Buatu Pts 1 & 2
Bana 22 Orch Ezazo Kinshasa Oyo Yayo Pts 1 & 2
Bana 23 Orch Ezazo Mindondo Pts 1 & 2
Bana 24 Orch Ezazo Mokanu Pts 1 & 2
Bana 27 Orch Grand Piza Bokila Pts 1 & 2
Bana 28 Orch Grand Piza Fouati Pts 1 & 2
Bana 29 Orch Grand Piza Naleli Mama Pts 1 & 2
Bana 30 Izile Topoke Butu Pts 1 & 2
Bana 31 Kot-Kot Mbondi Pts 1 & 2
Bana 32 Orch Mazi Bondunba Pts 1 & 2
Bana 35 Batchalinge Sita Pts 1 & 2
Catalogue Group A side/B side Year
Number
BANA MOJA