Congolese music is one of the most influential music of the African continent since the 1930s. Congolese musicians had a huge impact on the African musical scene and outside.Many contemporary genre of music were created or heavily influenced by Congolese music. As the genre of music in Kenya Benga or in Colombia Champeta. Democratic republic of Congo and are contemporary hub music in Africa since the 1930s /50s. Congolese rumba joined in 2021, other living traditions such as Jamaican reggae music and Cuban rumba on Unesco's "intangible cultural heritage of humanity" list. Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo varies in its different forms. Outside Africa, most music from the Democratic Republic of Congo is called Soukous, which most accurately refers instead to a dance popular in the late 1960s. The term rumba or rock-rumba is also used generically to refer to Congolese music, though neither is precise nor accurately descriptive.
Soukous is a genre of dance music from Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s 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, longer dance sequences. Notable performers of the genre include African Fiesta, Papa Wemba and Pépé Kallé.
Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, known professionally as Papa Wemba, was a Congolese singer and musician who played Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo. Dubbed the "King of Rumba Rock", he was one of the most popular musicians of his time in Africa and played an important role in world music. He was also a fashion icon who popularized the Sape look and style through his musical group Viva la Musica, with whom he performed on stages throughout the world.
Zaiko Langa Langa is a popular Contemporary band from DR Congo. Zaiko was named in 2000, by the Congolese Media Association, as the best Congolese musical group of the 20th century, and has been very influential. The word "Zaiko" is a portmanteau for the lingala phrase Zaire ya bankoko, meaning "Zaire of our ancestors", where "Zaire" must be read as a reference to the river by that name, now called Congo. The meaning of the phrase "Langa Langa" is controversial; according to the band's website, it means "marvelous" or "almighty".
Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, better known as Tabu Ley Rochereau, was a leading African rumba singer-songwriter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was the leader of Orchestre Afrisa International, as well as one of Africa's most influential vocalists and prolific songwriters. Along with guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, Tabu Ley pioneered soukous and internationalised his music by fusing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American rumba. He has been described as "the Congolese personality who, along with Mobutu, marked Africa's 20th century history." He was dubbed "the African Elvis" by the Los Angeles Times. After the fall of the Mobutu regime, Tabu Ley also pursued a political career. His musical career ran parallel to the other great Congolese rhumba bandleader and rival Franco Luambo Makiadi who ran the band TPOK Jazz throughout the 1960s, 1970s and '80s.
Congolese rumba is a popular genre of dance music that originated in the Congo basin during the 1940s, deriving from Cuban son. The style gained popularity throughout Africa during the 1960s and 1970s.
Antoine Wendo Kolosoy, known as Papa Wendo, was a Congolese musician. He is considered the "Father" of Congolese rumba, also known as soukous, a musical style blending son cubano, beguine, waltz, tango and cha-cha.
Dindo Yogo, real name Théodore Dindo Mabeli, was a Congolese singer and musician. He was also called La Voix Cassée.
Pépé Kallé, sometimes written as Pepe Kalle was a soukous singer, musician and bandleader from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mbenzu Ngamboni Bokili, better known as Bozi Boziana, is a Congolese singer, songwriter and bandleader. He has been in several major soukous bands, including Orchestre Bamboula, Minzoto Sangela, Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi Lokole, Yoka Lokole, Langa Langa Stars and Choc Stars, and founded his own band, Orchestre Anti-Choc, which is considered among the most influential of the genre and also notable for introducing up to three female vocalists at any one time into this band all of whom became celebrities in their own right, a tradition which continues up to today.
The Choc Stars are a soukous band from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The band was founded in 1983 by Ben Nyamabo, and has since published over 50 albums. The apex of their success was in the 1980s, when guitarist and vocalist Bozi Boziana wrote some of their most appreciated hits, such as Sandu Kotti, Alena, Mbuta-Mutu, and Retrouvailles a Paris. When Boziana left to create his own ensemble, three singers were hired to replace him. Many other talented congolese musicians have joined the Choc Stars over the years; some of them are Roxy Tshimpaka, Djuna Djanana, Monza Premier, Nzola Ndonga, Nzaya Nzayadio, Zemano Germain Kanza, Djo Mali, Carrol Makamba, Teddy Accompa, Wajery Lema, Ditutala Kuama and Djudjuchet. Most of these were coming from other prominent soukous bands such as Zaiko Langa Langa, Langa Langa Stars, Orchestre Big Stars, OK Jazz, Zaïko Nkolo Mboka and others.
Evoloko Atshuamo, best known as Evoloko Jocker or Lay Lay, is a popular congolese soukous singer. Since the late 1960s, he has been in several major soukous bands, such as Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi Lokole, and Langa Langa Stars.
Isifi Lokole were a soukous band from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They were founded in 1974. The word "Isifi" is an acronym for "Institut du Savoir Ideologique pour la Formation des Idoles", while the lokole is a traditional Congolese drum. Since Isifi Lokole was mostly composed of former Zaiko Langa Langa members, it is sometimes said to be in the so-called "Langa Langa Clan".
Langa Langa Stars were a popular DR Congo soukous band in the 1980s. The band had the peculiarity of featuring as much as seven lead vocalists, nicknamed the "6 Patrons of Langa Langa Stars".
The Orchestre Stukas was a congolese soukous band of the 1970s. It was based in Kinshasa, Zaire. At the apex of their popularity, the Stukas were led by singer and showman Gaby Lita Bembo.
Yoka Lokole was a soukous band from Zaire founded by Papa Wemba and others in 1975 and disbanded in 1978. Despite its short life, Yoka Lokole was a prominent band in Zaire in the mid-1970s, as its lineup comprised several of the most influential soukous musicians of the times, including Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana, and Mavuela Somo. Yoka Lokole's most important members were singers; the vocal ensemble of the group was collectively known as the Fania All-Stars of Zaire. Since most of the soukous "stars" in Yoka Lokole were former members of Zaiko Langa Langa, Yoka Lokole belongs to the so-called "Clan Langa Langa", i.e., the large family of Zaiko Langa Langa spin-off bands.
Viva La Musica is a popular band from Zaire founded by singer Papa Wemba in 1977. While Viva La Musica started out as a soukous band, it eventually grew into a world music act, reaching some popularity and success in the European, American, and even Asian markets, as well as in most of Africa. The band is still active today, although it is just one of a number of musical ensembles used by Papa Wemba as a backup for his essentially soloist production.
Rigobert Bamundele, best known as Rigo Star, is an appreciated soukous guitarist and composer from DR Congo, now based in Paris. He has played with several major soukous and world music acts, including Papa Wemba's Viva La Musica, Bozi Boziana's Anti-Choc, Kanda Bongo Man, Koffi Olomide, Kelele, Kékélé, and Paul Simon and Fally Ipupa in his 2009 album. His name is mostly associated with Congolese female singer M'bilia Bel, with whom he collaborated almost exclusively throughout the 1990s. He has also released a few solo works, including the 1998 album Attention! with Sam Mangwana on vocals.
Deo Brondo is a DR Congolese recording artist, composer, vocalist and entertainer. Brondo started music in Bozi Boziana's Anti Choc. Where he stayed from 1993 till 1997. After, he joined Zaïko Langa Langa where he composed the song Carpe Diem, in the 1999 album Poison. At one time, he was a member of the musical band Quartier Latin International, formed and led by Congolese musician Koffi Olomide. In the production Inchallah, Deo Brando is the sixth (last) person to sing his solo, behind Fally Ipupa, Bouro Mpela, Soleil Wanga, Montana Kamenga, and Jipson Butukondolo.
Defao was a Congolese singer-songwriter. He was formerly a member of the prominent soukous groups Grand Zaiko Wawa and Choc Stars.
Democratic Republic of the Congo