List of Soukous musicians
Encyclopedia
List of prominent Soukous
musicians and musical groups:
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...
musicians and musical groups:
- Aurlus Mabele
- Antoine KolosoyWendo KolosoyAntoine Wendo Kolosoy — known as Papa Wendo — was a Congolese musician. He was considered the "Father" of Congolese rumba music, a musical style blending rumba, beguine, waltz, tango and cha-cha.-Early life:...
, a.k.a Papa Wendo - Antoine Moundanda
- Awilo LongombaAwilo LongombaAwilo Longomba is a Congolese musician who was a drummer in Viva la Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Generation and Loketo. In 1995, he finally quit drumming for singing and released his first album Moto Pamba with help from Shimita, Ballou Canta, Dindo Yogo, Dally Kimoko, Sam Mangwana, Syran Mbenza and...
- Bopol Mansiamina
- Bozi BozianaBozi BozianaMbenzu Ngamboni Boskill, better known as Bozi Boziana, is congolese guitarist and singer. He has been in several major soukous bands, including Bamboula de Papa Noel, Minzoto Sangela, Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi Lokole, Yoka Lokole, Langa Langa Stars and Choc Stars, and founded his own band, Orchestre...
- Dave Depeu
- Diblo DibalaDiblo DibalaDiblo 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...
- Dindo YogoDindo YogoDindo Yogo or with his real name Théodore Dindo Mabeli was a Congolese singer and musician. He was also called La Voix Cassée .In 1978, Dindo Yogo joined Papa Wemba's Viva La Musica...
- Dr Nico KasandaDr Nico KasandaNicolas Kasanda wa Mikalay , popularly known as Dr. Nico was a guitarist, composer and one of the pioneers of soukous music. He was born in Mikalayi, Kasai province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
- Evoloko JockerEvoloko JockerEvoloko 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.-Biography:Evoloko was born in Belgian Congo...
- François Luambo MakiadiFrancois Luambo MakiadiFrançois Luambo Luanzo Makiadi was a major figure in twentieth century Congolese music, and African music in general. He is widely referred to as Franco Luambo or, simply, Franco. Known for his mastery of rumba, he was nicknamed the "Sorcerer of the Guitar" for his seemingly effortlessly fluid...
, band leader of OK JazzOK JazzTPOK Jazz, originally known as OK Jazz, was a rumba band in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from June 1956 until December 1993.-Location:... - Grand KalleGrand KalleJoseph Kabasele Tshamala , popularly known as Le Grand Kalle, was a Congolese singer and bandleader, considered the father of modern Congolese music...
, band leader of Grand Kalle et l'African Jazz - Joyce Delly
- Kanda Bongo ManKanda Bongo ManKanda 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...
- Kasai Masai
- Kékélé
- Koffi OlomideKoffi OlomideAntoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, also known as Koffi Olomide , is a DR Congolese soukous singer, dancer, producer, and composer. He is also known by a multitude of other names and aliases.-Background:...
- Mavuela Somo
- M'bilia BelM'bilia BelM'bilia Bel is a Congolese rumba singer, known as the Queen of Congolese rumba. She rose to fame after being discovered by Tabu Ley Rochereau.-Biography:...
- Mose Fan FanMose Fan FanMose Se Sengo is a guitarist, composer, band-leader from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is one of the pioneers of Congolese Soukous....
- NybomaNybomaNyboma is one of the most celebrated Soukous musicians in the world. Nyboma Mwan'dido was born in Zaire ....
- Papa WembaPapa WembaPapa 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:...
- Pepe KallePepe KallePepe Kalle was a soukous singer, musician and bandleader from the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
- Ricardo LemvoRicardo LemvoRicardo Lemvo is a DR Congolese singer of Angolan descent, based in Los Angeles. His music combines Cuban salsa with African rumba and soukous....
, band leader of Makina Loca - Rigo StarRigo StarRigobert 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,...
- Rumbanella Band
- Sam MangwanaSam MangwanaSam Mangwana, born February 21, 1945, is a Congolese musician, born to a Zimbabwean migrant father and an Angolan mother. He is the frontman of his bands Festival des maquisards and African All Stars....
- Samba MapangalaSamba MapangalaSamba Mapangala born in Matadi in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He spent early 70's with various bands in Kinshasa, before moving to Uganda in 1975 where he and some other Congolese musicians formed the Les Kinois band. They moved to Nairobi in 1977. He formed a new band, the...
, band leader of Orchestra Virunga - Soukous Stars
- Syran Mbenza
- Kass Kass
- Passi Jo
- Tabu Ley RochereauTabu Ley RochereauTabu 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...
, band leader of African FiestaAfrican FiestaL'Orchestra African Fiesta, often known simply as African Fiesta, was a Congolese soukous band started by Tabu Ley Rochereau and Dr. Nico Kasanda in 1963.Tabu Ley and Dr. Nico were originally members of the seminal band Grand Kalle et l'African Jazz... - Tinderwet
- Zaiko Langa LangaZaiko Langa LangaZaiko 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...