Kanda Bongo Man
Encyclopedia
Kanda Bongo Man, born 1955 in Inongo
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, is a prominent soukous
musician.
Kanda Bongo Man become the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley
. His solo career only started to take off after moving to Paris in 1979, where his music started to incorporate elements of then-vibrant zouk
music (originating in the French West Indies). His first solo albums, "Iyole" in 1981 and "Djessy" in 1982, were hits.
He is most famous for the structural changes he implemented to soukous music
. The previous approach was to sing several verses and have one guitar solo
at the end of the song. Kanda Bongo Man revolutionized soukous by encouraging guitar solos after every verse and even sometimes at the beginning of the song. His form of soukous gave birth to the kwassa kwassa
dance rhythm where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.
Like many African rumba and soukous musicians before him, Kanda Bongo Man also had an entourage of musicians. Many of Kanda's musicians later moved on to start their own solo careers. Most notable of these was Diblo Dibala
. Known as "Machine Gun", Diblo Dibala was a vital part of Kanda Bongo Man's lineup on several albums, including "Kwasa Kwasa" and "Amour Fou".
Kanda Bongo Man still tours in Europe and the United States
. On July, 2005 he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling
concert in Cornwall
.
Inongo
Inongo is a town and seat of Mai-Ndombe District of western Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 45,159....
, the 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...
, is a prominent 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...
musician.
Kanda Bongo Man become the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley
Tabu Ley Rochereau
Tabu Ley Rochereau is a musician from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is the leader of Orchestre Afrisa International and one of Africa's most influential vocalists and prolific songwriters...
. His solo career only started to take off after moving to Paris in 1979, where his music started to incorporate elements of then-vibrant zouk
Zouk
Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe & Martinique. Zouk means "party" or "festival" in the local Antillean Creole of French, although the word originally referred to, and is still used to refer to, a popular dance, based on the Polish dance, the...
music (originating in the French West Indies). His first solo albums, "Iyole" in 1981 and "Djessy" in 1982, were hits.
He is most famous for the structural changes he implemented to soukous music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. The previous approach was to sing several verses and have one guitar solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
at the end of the song. Kanda Bongo Man revolutionized soukous by encouraging guitar solos after every verse and even sometimes at the beginning of the song. His form of soukous gave birth to the kwassa kwassa
Kwassa kwassa
Kwassa kwassa is a dance rhythm from the Democratic Republic of the Congo that started in the 1970s where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips. It was very popular in Africa in the late 1980s. The words kwassa kwassa may have come from the French quoi ça?...
dance rhythm where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.
Like many African rumba and soukous musicians before him, Kanda Bongo Man also had an entourage of musicians. Many of Kanda's musicians later moved on to start their own solo careers. Most notable of these was Diblo Dibala
Diblo Dibala
Diblo Dibala, often known simply as Diblo, is a Congolese soukous musician, known as "Machine Gun" for his speed and skill on the guitar. He was born in 1954 in Kisangani. He moved to Kinshasa as a child, and aged 15 won a talent competition which led to him playing guitar in Franco's TPOK band...
. Known as "Machine Gun", Diblo Dibala was a vital part of Kanda Bongo Man's lineup on several albums, including "Kwasa Kwasa" and "Amour Fou".
Kanda Bongo Man still tours in Europe and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On July, 2005 he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling
Live 8 concert, Eden Project
On July 2, 2005, a Live 8 concert was held at the Eden Project, Cornwall, England. The event was dubbed "Africa Calling", but was also known as "LIVE 8: Africa Calling" or "Africa Calling: LIVE 8 at the Eden Project"....
concert in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Discography
- Iyole (1981)
- Djessy (1982)
- Amour Fou (1984)
- Malinga (1986)
- Lela Lela (1987)
- Sai Liza (1988)
- Kwassa KwassaKwassa Kwassa (album)-Track listing:# "Sai" – 6:29# "Cantique" – 5:21# "Naloti" – 5:20# "Lowazo" – 5:19# "Lela-Lela" – 6:19# "Bedy" – 5:19# "Liza" – 6:36# "Lisote" – 4:51# "Belle Amie" – 7:32# "Ebeneza" – 5:44...
(1989) - Isambe Monie (1990)
- Zing Zong (1991)
- Sango (1992)
- Soukous in Central Park (1993)
- Sweet (1995)
- Welcome to South Africa (1995)
- Francophonix (1999)
- Balobi (2002)
- Swalati (2003)
- (2009)
- Non-Stop Feeling (2010)