Nico Kasanda, born in 1939 in Belgian Congo, was a pioneer of soukous music. He’s also known as Docteur Nico. In the young age of 14, he started playing in the group ‘Le Grand Kallé et l’African Jazz’ and became an influential guitarist, as a meeting with Jimi Hendrix shows. He already died in 1985 in Belgium. Listen to his piece “Zadio”:
Tabu Ley Rochereau, born in 1940, is a musician from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He’s well known for internationalising his african rumba and soukous music, together with Dr Nico Kasanda. Listen to his nice piece “Mokolo Nakokufa”:
Lokua Kanza (born April 1958) is a singer-songwriter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is known for his soulful, folksy sound. Here is the song “Meu amor”
Joseph Kabasele Tshamala (1930 – 1983), popularly known as Le Grand Kalle, was a Congolese singer and bandleader, considered the father of modern Congolese music. He began his career by founding the seminal African Rumba band Grand Kalle & l’African Jazz, the most popular early band on the scene, whose personnel at various times included guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, saxophonist Manu Dibango and singers Tabu Ley Rochereau, Sam Mangwana and Pepe Kalle. Here is the song “Independance Cha Cha “
Tabu Ley Rochereau (born 1940) 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. Along with guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, Tabu Ley pioneered soukous; he internationalised his music by fusing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean, and Latin American rumba. Here is the song “Mokolo Nakokufa”
Kaysha, born in Kinshasa 1974, is a pop, R&B and rap musician who immigrated to France. He already won some awards, e.g. the Kora Award for the best African artist in 2000. Here’s his song “Si tu veux de moi”:
Fredy Massamba is a french musician. Here’s his song “Ntoto“:
This was another great Music-Suggestion from Kweli, thanks!
Alice Niyonsaba known as Alicios Theluji born in 1987, at Nyanzale in the Province of Kivu in the DRCongo. She sings in English, Swahili, Lingala and French. Here performing with Juliana Kanyomozi from Uganda. Enjoy “Mpita Njia”
Makoma is an award-winning Christian, pop, R&B and dance musical group from Kinshasa, DRCongo based in the Netherlands. Made up of 6 siblings and a non-family member. Sing in Lingala, English, French, Dutch and German. Here is their song “Evolution”
Gasandji is a congolese alternative, soul and jazz-fusion musician. Here’s her great song called “Libéla“:
This was a Music-Suggestion from Admin, thanks!
