Global Rhythm Magazine Volume XIV #3, March 2005

Franco has been called the Balzac of Africa and the godfather of African music; he’s been likened to Shakespeare, Mozart and Pelé, and described as a human god. The government of Zaire dubbed him Grande Maître, a title usually reserved for judges and scholars, even though his lyrics got him jailed or denied permission to leave the country on more than one occasion. He managed to tour Europe and the United States in the mid-1980s, and yet this truly legendary bandleader, who was beloved by millions and respected by heads of state, remains little-known outside Africa.