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 Kikongo.

After various international collaborations and a great commitment to artists, in 2009 he founded the Manus group comprising composers, guitarists, and his own musician friends. By using instruments like the violin, saxophone, accordion, and piano, they could blend genres such as Afrojazz, blues, African folklore, and Congolese rumba, which changed their perception of world music.

In 2013, he released his first album "Lettres Ouvertes" and since 2017 has been hired as artistic director by the complex "La Plage." Participating in festivals, concerts, and training workshops, he continues to travel and perform his music beyond the borders of the African continent (Belgium, San Salvador, Spain, Italy, Sweden, etc.), as well as prepare for the release of his second album scheduled for 2023.