N'Yoka Longo
Encyclopedia
N' Yoka Longo, also known as Jossart, is a DR Congo
soukous
singer, historical member and current leader of the popular soukous band Zaiko Langa Langa
.
He began his career in a big band
known as Bel Guide National. On december 24th 1969, in Kinshasa
, he founded Zaiko Langa Langa
together with Papa Wemba
and a group of fellow Bel Guide National members, including Henri Mongombe, D. V. Moanda, Marcelin Bita, and Félix Manuaku Waku
. Despite the longevity of Zaiko Langa Langa and their uncountable personnel changes, N'Yoka Longo never left, and he is currently the leader and main song writer of the band.
In 1977 Longo was chosen to perform with Zaire
's National Orchestra at the FESTAC festival in Lagos
; this was a significant thrust to his popularity, that has been steadily growing since then. He has written major Zaiko Langa Langa hits such as Nalala Pongi and Amando and played in over 100 international concert tours.
A distinctive feature of N'Yoka Longo is that, as a polyglot
, he sings in several languages, including Kikongo, Swahili
, French
, and English
.
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, historical member and current leader of the popular soukous band 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...
.
He began his career in a big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
known as Bel Guide National. On december 24th 1969, in Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, he founded 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...
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:...
and a group of fellow Bel Guide National members, including Henri Mongombe, D. V. Moanda, Marcelin Bita, and Félix Manuaku Waku
Félix Manuaku Waku
Félix Manuaku Waku, also known as Pépé Fely is a soukous guitarist from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has been described as the foremost Congolese solo guitarist of his generation, and is credited with establishing the guitar as the lead instrument in contemporary Congolese music.A graduate...
. Despite the longevity of Zaiko Langa Langa and their uncountable personnel changes, N'Yoka Longo never left, and he is currently the leader and main song writer of the band.
In 1977 Longo was chosen to perform with 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...
's National Orchestra at the FESTAC festival in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
; this was a significant thrust to his popularity, that has been steadily growing since then. He has written major Zaiko Langa Langa hits such as Nalala Pongi and Amando and played in over 100 international concert tours.
A distinctive feature of N'Yoka Longo is that, as a polyglot
Polyglot (person)
A polyglot is someone with a high degree of proficiency in several languages. A bilingual person can speak two languages fluently, whereas a trilingual three; above that the term multilingual may be used.-Hyperpolyglot:...
, he sings in several languages, including Kikongo, Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.