Artists

Francesco Nchikala is an artist and musician born in Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a singer, solo guitarist, and composer, his sound incorporates elements of smooth jazz, blues, rock, folklore, and rumba. Alone with his guitar, he plays the griot and sings in French, Swahili, Lingala, Kiluba, and read more

Jupiter Bokondji was born in Kinshasa 48 years ago, into a family of griots from the Mongo region. His grandmother, a renowned healer, introduced him to traditional rhythm and music including the famous Zebola from Ekonda (Mongo région of the equator), rhythms that are said to cure the sick. From read more

Kasai Allstars are a 25-piece musical collective based in Kinshasa, DRC. The group is unique in the history of Congolese music as the members hail from multiple tribes and bands, all from the Kasai region.  Historically, these tribes endured conflicting relationships over read more

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Naxx Bitota discovered her passion for music at the age of 9 and dreamed of making a career out of it. She pursued this dream by joining several choirs of different styles: gospel, traditional, classical and folk music in the Congo and then read more

When 20-year-old singer Samba Mapangala boarded the riverboat for Kisangani in 1975, little did he know where it would really be taking him. The young vocalist, one of a quartet of singers in the Kinshasa dance band Saka Saka, was heading with his mates for a tour of Eastern Zaire. read more

Of all the bands that immigrated to East Africa, Super Mazembe has stood the test of time.

Super Mazembe started in 1969 in Likasi, near Lubumbashi, DRC as Super Vox. On tour in neighbouring Zambia during 1970, the band met Nashil Pichen Kazembe, a diehard supporter of one of read more