Congolese music is one of the most influential music forms of the African continent. Since the 1930s, Congolese musicians have had a huge impact on the African musical scene and elsewhere. Many contemporary genres of music, such as Kenyan Benga and Colombian Champeta, have been heavily influenced by Congolese music. In 2021, Congolese rumba joined other living traditions such as Jamaican reggae music and Cuban rumba on UNESCO's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list.
Soukous is a genre of dance music originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s, with faster dance rhythms and bright, intricate guitar improvisation, and gained popularity in the 1980s in France. Although often used by journalists as a synonym for Congolese rumba, both the music and dance associated with soukous differ from more traditional rumba, especially in its higher tempo, song structures and longer dance sequences.
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, producer, and founder of Quartier Latin International. Often referred to as the "King of Ndombolo", he is noted for his explosive high notes, deep baritone, and offbeat voice. Agbepa is considered one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Congolese and African popular music. His lyrics often explore themes of love, politics, technology, success, infidelity, religion, chicanery, and disillusionment. Through his music and stage performances, he introduced the slower style of soukous known as Tcha Tcho and popularized a flamboyant fashion subculture called La Sape, alongside Papa Wemba.
The Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte, or commonly referred to as the Stade des Martyrs, is the national stadium of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the Kinshasa commune of the capital Kinshasa. With a seating capacity of 80,000, it is the largest stadium in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the fourth-largest stadium in Africa. It serves as the home stadium for the Congolese football national team, Association Sportive Vita Club, and Daring Club Motema Pembe, making it the largest multifunctional venue in the country.
Ndombolo, also known as dombolo, is a genre of dance music originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Derived from soukous in the 1990s, with fast-paced hip-swaying dance rhythms, often accompanied by upbeat, percussion-driven music, the style became widespread in the mid-1990s and the subsequent decade, dominating dancefloors in central, eastern, and western Africa. It inspired West African popular music, coupé-décalé, Kuduro, and East African dance music.
Nyboma Mwan'dido, often simply Nyboma, a prominent Congolese soukous tenor vocalist, has been over a fifty-year span a leading member of several outstanding bands, including Orchestre Bella Bella, Orchestre Lipua Lipua, Orchestre Kamale, Les Quatre Étoiles, and Kékélé, in addition to performing and recording as a solo artist. He is widely recognized as one of the best singers in Congolese music.
Louis Albert William Longomba, known professionally as Awilo Longomba, is a Congolese soukous singer, composer, drummer, songwriter, dancer, and producer. The third son of Vicky Longomba and maternal uncle of French player Claude Makélélé, William is known for his avant-garde "techno-soukous" and performances.
Noël Ngiama Makanda, known professionally as Werrason, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, composer, producer, philanthropist, and the bandleader of Wenge Musica Maison Mère. He was a co-founding member of Wenge Musica, a musical group that played a pivotal role in the development of the ndombolo dance music genre during the 1990s.
Fally Ipupa N'simba, known professionally as Fally Ipupa, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, guitarist, and producer. Often referred to as the "Prince of Rumba", he is noted for his tenor vocals as well as his blend of contemporary and traditional Congolese music genres, including Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo. His lyrics often cover themes of romance, suffering, and joy.
Hervé Gola Bataringe, known professionally as Ferré Gola, and alternatively spelled as Ferre Gola, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. Revered as the "Jésus de Nuances", he is regarded as one of the most significant figures of the fifth-generation Congolese rumba. His lyrics predominantly revolve around themes of love, social support, and interpersonal relationships.
Bopol Mansiamina, also known as Bopol or Don Paolo, was a prolific and renowned Congolese musician. He recorded and performed extensively over four decades as a solo artist, as a member of leading African bands, and in support of many African musicians. Bopol was best known for his work in the 1980s and early 1990s as one of the four members of the Paris-based supergroup Les Quatre Etoiles and as a solo artist.
Pierrette Adams is a singer, nicknamed "Mère Z", from the Republic of the Congo, who was based for many years in Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire, and since 2003, has been based in Dakar in Senegal. She has released seven albums since 1994, plus a greatest hits disc in 2004.
Syran Mbenza is a guitarist, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who has lived in Paris since about 1981. He has recorded and performed prolifically over five decades, including as a solo artist; as one of the four members of the popular soukous "supergroup" Les Quatre Étoiles; as a founding member of the acoustic, Congolese rumba revival band Kékélé; in other bands; and in support of numerous artists. He has been described as one of the greatest guitar players of Africa.
Héritier Bondongo Kabeya, known by his stage name as Héritier Watanabe is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer from Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo. He started singing at age of 10. he was a member of Wenge Musica Maison Mère from 2001 to 2015 he decided to quit the group and signed with Obouo Music Label of David Monsoh and release his first single title "B.M" in July 2016 and his first album "Carrière d'honneur - Retirada" in November 2016.
Fabrice Mbuyulu, better known by his stage name Fabregas Le Métis Noir is a Congolese singer-songwriter dancer and record producer from his own label Wanted Record founded in 2015. He started his musical career by singing in a Catholic church. He is also known as a member of Wenge Musica Maison Mère from 2008 to 2011
Wenge Musica Maison Mère, also spelled as WMMM, is a musical band founded in December 1997, by musicians Werrason, Didier Masela and Adolphe Dominguez, after the split of their original band, Wenge Musica, created in 1981. Since its foundation, the band has had a rivalry with former bandmate JB Mpiana's Wenge BCBG. Under the leadership of Werrason, the group developed stars such as vocalists Ferré Gola, Héritier Watanabe, Fabregas le Métis Noir and Bill Clinton Kalonji. The band faced its first split after Ferré, Bill Clinton and JDT Mulopwe left the band to found Les Marquis de Maison Mère in 2004.
Wenge Musica were a Congolese soukous band. It was formed by Didier Masela in July 1981 and directed by JB Mpiana from 1986 to the breakup of the group in 1997. The band is considered one of the most dominant on the Congolese scene.
Mongala Akelembi, professionally known as Robinio Mundibu, is a Congolese singer, songwriter and dancer. Akelembi began his career as a protégé of Do Akongo and later worked with Tutu Caludji, an ex-singer of Wenge Musica BCBG. In 2009, he joined Wenge Musica Maison Mère before branching out as a solo artist in 2014 with his debut singles "Vantard" and "Mbonzimbonzi". In the following year, he debuted four singles "Ye Yo Ok", "Etirette", "Zuwa", and "Compliqué".
Extra Musica is a Congolese rumba band formed in Ouenzé, Brazzaville, in August 1993. The band was established by Roga-Roga, Espé Bass, Kila Mbongo, Durell Loemba, Guy-Guy Fall, Ramatoulaye Ngolali, and Quentin Moyascko, who met at the Sainte Thérèse church in Ouenze, and were also neighbors or classmates. Previously, several members had been part of the group Cogiex Stars, but left after being sanctioned for attempting to introduce new ideas.
