Evoloko Jocker
Encyclopedia
Evoloko Atshuamo, best known as Evoloko Jocker (sometimes spelled Joker) 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
.
(now Democratic Republic of the Congo
). He began his career in Zaiko Langa Langa
, one of the biggest Congolese soukous bands, in 1969. He was so appreciated that he soon became one the band's prominent musicians together with Papa Wemba
. The cavacha
, a sound and dance style that became a trademark of Zaiko and a craze in East Africa in the 1970s
, was Evoloko's creation.
In 1974 he temporarily quit music to complete his studies in Europe
. When he came back to Congo (then Zaire
), he joined Papa Wemba's new band, Isifi Lokole
. The band also included Mavuela Somo, who was another popular soukous star. Somo, Evoloko and Papa Wemba eventually argued with each other and Evoloko left Isifi Lokole to found his own band, Isifi Melodia. For a while, Isifi Melodia became one of the most popular soukous band in Zaire.
In the early 1980s
Isifi Melodia went hiatus, and Evoloko founded a new band, the Langa Langa Stars
, where many ex-Zaiko Langa Langa
musicians were recruited. Langa Langa Stars were also very popular, as was their sansaku dance. They disbanded in 1984.
After Langa Langa Stars, Evoloko kept playing either in solo projects or with other short-lived groups, such as Langa Langa Rénové (2008). He also occasionally collaborates with his original band, Zaiko Langa Langa.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
soukous
Soukous
Soukous is a dance music genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa...
singer. Since the late 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, he has been in several major soukous bands, such as Zaiko Langa Langa
Zaiko Langa Langa
Zaiko Langa Langa are a seminal soukous band from DR Congo. 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...
, Isifi Lokole
Isifi Lokole
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...
, and Langa Langa Stars
Langa Langa Stars
Langa Langa Star 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 "7 Patrons of Langa Langa Stars"....
.
Biography
Evoloko was born in Belgian CongoBelgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
(now Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
). He began his career in Zaiko Langa Langa
Zaiko Langa Langa
Zaiko Langa Langa are a seminal soukous band from DR Congo. 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...
, one of the biggest Congolese soukous bands, in 1969. He was so appreciated that he soon became one the band's prominent musicians together with Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba was born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in 1949 in Lubefu . He is a Congolese rumba musician, one of Africa's most popular musicians, and prominent in World music.-Zaiko Langa Langa:...
. The cavacha
Cavacha
Cavacha is a type of rhythm found in the popular music of Zaire and Kenya. It is a fast-paced rhythm typically played on a drum kit, often with the snare drum or hi hat. Zairean bands such as Zaiko Langa Langa and Orchestra Shama Shama popularized this form of rhythm in the 1960s and 1970s....
, a sound and dance style that became a trademark of Zaiko and a craze in East Africa in the 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
, was Evoloko's creation.
In 1974 he temporarily quit music to complete his studies in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. When he came back to Congo (then Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
), he joined Papa Wemba's new band, Isifi Lokole
Isifi Lokole
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...
. The band also included Mavuela Somo, who was another popular soukous star. Somo, Evoloko and Papa Wemba eventually argued with each other and Evoloko left Isifi Lokole to found his own band, Isifi Melodia. For a while, Isifi Melodia became one of the most popular soukous band in Zaire.
In the early 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
Isifi Melodia went hiatus, and Evoloko founded a new band, the Langa Langa Stars
Langa Langa Stars
Langa Langa Star 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 "7 Patrons of Langa Langa Stars"....
, where many ex-Zaiko Langa Langa
Zaiko Langa Langa
Zaiko Langa Langa are a seminal soukous band from DR Congo. 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...
musicians were recruited. Langa Langa Stars were also very popular, as was their sansaku dance. They disbanded in 1984.
After Langa Langa Stars, Evoloko kept playing either in solo projects or with other short-lived groups, such as Langa Langa Rénové (2008). He also occasionally collaborates with his original band, Zaiko Langa Langa.
With Langa Langa Stars
- Requiem
- Kalolo
- SoleilSoleilSoleil may refer to:* French for the Sun* Soleil , a 2002 album by female Japanese pop artist Watanabe Misato* Soleil , a 1971 album* Soleil , a 1997 French film by Roger Hanin...
- Mingalina B 52