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CEFA

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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 [a=Bill Alexandre] was launched as A&R man. In 1955 the label was bought by [l62937]. 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 [r7604429]). These were followed by releases with "CF. and the 3-digit number" (example [r18427225]) that subsequently in most cases received a reissue to be differentiated with these characteristics : "CEFA and the 3-digit number" (example [r9702239]), 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 [r21980827]), 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 [r24956755]).