Marius Billgobenson (born Marius Billy, 4 April 1966) is a Swedish-Congolese musician, cultural ambassador, and human rights advocate. He uses his artistry to raise awareness about important global issues.
Billgobenson was born in the village of Ingoumina (Zanaga), a former Swedish missionary station in the Republic of Congo. His early exposure to the local culture, music, and the forest environment deeply influenced his artistic and cultural sensibilities.[1] He holds an MScR in Anthropology from the University of Kent at Canterbury (UK) , focusing on research and thesis work related to cult ural preservation, international development, and human rights.[2]
During the Civil War in Congo, he sought refuge among the Pygmies, also known as the "Forest People". The harrowing experiences he endured while living among them became the fertile soil from which his resilience blossomed, transforming the shadows of his past into a source of strength. Through this journey, he came to appreciate their rich culture, as well as the severe discrimination and marginalization they face, which inspired him to advocate for their rights.[3]
Career
In 1994, Billgobenson began working with Afrique Profonde – Brazzaville, a non-governmental organization that promotes intercultural dialogue and education through the arts. The organization is based in Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo, and its mission was to strengthen cultural understanding among African peoples.[4][5]
In 2003, the National Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm hired Billgobenson as an archivist and Africa specialist. His work in preserving and researching historical data contributed to the development of the museum's digital catalog, "Carlotta".
He became cultural attaché at the Embassy of Congo in Sweden in 2013, based in Stockholm. In that role, he was responsible for promoting the culture of his homeland while simultaneously developing his music career.[6]
Music
Billgobenson's music is a fusion of jazz, blues, pop, and R&B with indigenous rhythms. With his performances, Billgobenson aims to highlight marginalized communities' systemic issues and advocate for civil rights. He has performed on numerous occasions and collaborated with others, such as double Award Grammy Producer Paul Brown or Award Winning Premiere Urban Jazz Producer Chris "Big Dog" Davis, to create significant social impact.[7][6] In 1996, Billgobenson collaborated with the US Cultural Center in Brazzaville to organize a cultural exchange exhibition.[8]
Awards and recognition
In 1997, a civil war broke out in Brazzaville, where Billgobenson was living at the time, and he had to flee to Pointe-Noire. After the fighting abated, Billgobenson obtained special permission from the Minister of Arts and Culture and went deep into the forest. He selected a band of 15 Pygmy musicians from seven different tribes. He brought them to the city for a month, where they performed several shows and workshops in collaboration with the French Cultural Centre. He called the group "Silambam", which means "live with my fire".
Billgobenson earned special recognition for his efforts from the UN Association for the Promotion of Human Rights in Congo (ACNU), the Congolese Art and Cultural Minister, the French Cultural Centre, and the Regional Cultural Minister in Pointe-Noire.[9]
Billgobenson was included in the 2010/2011 Princeton Global Network Registry to recognize professional distinction and acknowledge personal and academic achievements. In 2021, Billgobenson won the Best Jazz Song award at the World Songwriting Award after publishing his second music album, The Spirit Love, in September 2021. In 2024, his song, "A Little Bit of Honey", was nominated for the World Songwriting Awards and was the finalist in the Best R&B Song category.[7][10]
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