Soukous

23 Oct AFS254onMWR: The Afro-Fusion Show

Posted at 21:13h in AfroCongo, Congo Jazz, Entertainment, Music, Ndombolo, Podcast, Rhumba, Sebene, Soukous by Big O 0 Comments

Episode 254: "Mashujaa Day" 🎶 Welcome to another electrifying episode of the Afro-Fusion Show on Mawalking Radio! This is a special night, and today we’re diving into Episode 254, "Mashujaa Day," hosted by none other than Deejay Brendan", a.k.a. @brendothesibuor, streaming live from the city of...

21 Oct Sam Mangwana: The Pigeon Voyageur of Congolese Rumba

Posted at 20:02h in Blog, Entertainment, Music, Ndombolo, Rhumba, Sebene, Soukous by Big O 2 Comments

Early Life and Cultural Roots Sam Mangwana was born on February 21, 1945, in Leopoldville, now Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His mixed heritage—born to an Angolan mother and a Zimbabwean father—greatly influenced his multicultural musical style. This background not only...

13 Oct Kiamuangana Verckys: Congolese Saxophonist and Visionary Music Pioneer

Posted at 10:22h in Afro-Pop, Afrobeat, Blog, Congo Jazz, Entertainment, Music, Rhumba, Soukous by Big O 2 Comments

Early Life and Musical Beginnings Born Georges Kiamuangana Mateta on May 19, 1944, in Kisantu, Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Verckys grew up in a wealthy family. His father was a businessman in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), giving him access to resources that...

12 Oct Franco Luambo: Celebrating His Legacy 35 Years Later

Posted at 15:48h in Blog, Congo Jazz, Cuban Rumba, Entertainment, Featured, Music, Ndombolo, Rhumba, Sebene, Soukous by Big O 10 Comments

The Grand Maître of Congolese Music François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi, known to the world as Franco, was a towering figure in Congolese and African music. Born on July 6, 1938, and passing on October 12, 1989, Franco's influence extended far beyond the music stage. He was...

02 Oct The Birth of a Legend: Papa Noel Nedule’s Early Life

Posted at 21:20h in Blog, Congo Jazz, Cuban Rumba, Entertainment, Music, Ndombolo, Rhumba, Sebene, Soukous by Big O 0 Comments

Born Antoine Nedule Monswet on December 25, 1940, in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), Papa Noel’s stage name reflects his Christmas Day birth. Growing up in the bustling capital of the Belgian Congo, Papa Noel was exposed to a rich tapestry of African music, as well as...

30 Sep Kékélé: Reviving the Golden Era of Congolese Rumba

Posted at 20:43h in AfroCongo, Blog, Entertainment, Featured, Lifestyle, Music, Rhumba, Sebene, Soukous by Big O 0 Comments

Origins of Kékélé Formed in 2000, Kékélé is a Congolese supergroup whose name is derived from a fibrous tree-climbing vine found in the Congo river basin. The band’s creation was a collaborative effort to revive and preserve the rich tradition of Congolese rumba, a genre that...