SOUKOUS, THE MUSIC OF CONGO
Soukous is the modern popular music and dance style of Congo originating from the tribal music and dances of the region. The foundations of the style were settled in the 1940's and 50's by bands like TP OK Jazz of Franco Luambo and African Jazz of Grand Kalle and in the forthcoming decades, due to foreign and traditional influences, it evolved to its current form highlighted by formations like Zaiko Langa Langa, Tabu Ley, Wenge Musica, Extra Musica, Koffi Olomide, Big Stars, Soukous Stars, Kanda Bongo Man, Aurlus Mabele and many others. By now, it became the dominating music style in Congo and gained popularity all over Africa.
Soukous is played by modern instruments: electric/bass guitar, keyboard, jazz drums accompanied by traditional african percussion. The lyrics are usually in lingala and kikongo (the local languages) and occasionally complimented by French, but songs in other African languages, like Swahili or Kimbala, are also released by various bands.
Soukous has a flavour that catches your attention and makes you dance because of its sweet solo guitar melodies and distinctive thumping drums. Percussion and solo guitar are essential parts and the main characteristics of this style. Once you hear it, you will always recognise it from its joyful and vibrating melodies. It has a very happy feel, and incorporates solutions that makes it a unique genre.
Some of the famous guitarists who represent this style are the late Maestro Luambo Makiadi AKA Franco, the late Nico Kassanda, Lokassa Ya Mbongo, Diblo Dibala, Félix Manuaku, Beniko Popolipo, Caien Madoka, Alain Makaba, Roga Roga and many others. Congolese guitar styles keep evolving as musicians keep experimenting with other international genres, we now have famous soloist like Flamme Kapaya, Ramazani, Patou Solo and many others including Renato Mondele himself, who are taking the style of soloing to a different level.
The dance style is characterized by rhythmic hip wiggling that amazes the spectator from the first moment and makes you enthusiastic about it right away! The dancers are shaking their whole body, but the main movement is in the hips. Dancing is an integral part of Congolese music and concerts are not only meant for listening but for making people dance, too. Songs played by the bands usually start slowly and progress to a faster tempo called 'seben or ambience'. In the slower part, the main role is the singers' but the fast part is for the solo guitar, the animators/rappers and this is the time when the singers start to dance.
Soukous exists together with many other styles and it has several derivatives, such as rhumba and ndombolo. CONGOLESE RHUMBA is a slower version of it, more lyrical and focuses on vocal parts. NDOMBOLO is more traditional and recently the dominating style in Congo, that owns more to the authentic African music, that always serves as a source of inspiration.
Our band, African Ngwasuma is devoted to introduce to you the essence of this vast musical heritage of Central Africa, that is made possible by our experienced musicians who know this fantastic music style inside out!
Soukous is played by modern instruments: electric/bass guitar, keyboard, jazz drums accompanied by traditional african percussion. The lyrics are usually in lingala and kikongo (the local languages) and occasionally complimented by French, but songs in other African languages, like Swahili or Kimbala, are also released by various bands.
Soukous has a flavour that catches your attention and makes you dance because of its sweet solo guitar melodies and distinctive thumping drums. Percussion and solo guitar are essential parts and the main characteristics of this style. Once you hear it, you will always recognise it from its joyful and vibrating melodies. It has a very happy feel, and incorporates solutions that makes it a unique genre.
Some of the famous guitarists who represent this style are the late Maestro Luambo Makiadi AKA Franco, the late Nico Kassanda, Lokassa Ya Mbongo, Diblo Dibala, Félix Manuaku, Beniko Popolipo, Caien Madoka, Alain Makaba, Roga Roga and many others. Congolese guitar styles keep evolving as musicians keep experimenting with other international genres, we now have famous soloist like Flamme Kapaya, Ramazani, Patou Solo and many others including Renato Mondele himself, who are taking the style of soloing to a different level.
The dance style is characterized by rhythmic hip wiggling that amazes the spectator from the first moment and makes you enthusiastic about it right away! The dancers are shaking their whole body, but the main movement is in the hips. Dancing is an integral part of Congolese music and concerts are not only meant for listening but for making people dance, too. Songs played by the bands usually start slowly and progress to a faster tempo called 'seben or ambience'. In the slower part, the main role is the singers' but the fast part is for the solo guitar, the animators/rappers and this is the time when the singers start to dance.
Soukous exists together with many other styles and it has several derivatives, such as rhumba and ndombolo. CONGOLESE RHUMBA is a slower version of it, more lyrical and focuses on vocal parts. NDOMBOLO is more traditional and recently the dominating style in Congo, that owns more to the authentic African music, that always serves as a source of inspiration.
Our band, African Ngwasuma is devoted to introduce to you the essence of this vast musical heritage of Central Africa, that is made possible by our experienced musicians who know this fantastic music style inside out!