Congolese artistes are widely regarded as some of the finest rhumba musicians in Africa and the world.
Unmatched in composition, instrumental mastery, and their devotion to sweet lyrics and melodies, they have won admiration across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone countries alike.
Their songs, often laced with moral lessons, resonate even with listeners who do not understand the language, making Congolese music a truly global sound.
For decades, these musicians have dominated the international stage, inspiring upcoming artistes and earning invitations to perform before dignitaries worldwide.
Many Congolese legends have explained why they live and work outside their homeland. A majority record their music in foreign studios, attracted by better facilities and more stable working environments.
Originally, most were based in African cities—Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, or Abidjan—before migrating to Europe and the United States in search of greener pastures. Paris and Brussels became cultural hubs, while in the US, Congolese musicians are spread across many states.
Meanwhile, upcoming artistes and retired veterans largely remain in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Voices of Legends
Nyboma Mwandido, formerly of Orchestra Four Stars, said performing in Europe offers better returns than in Africa. “There are good returns when playing in Europe, though that doesn’t mean musicians in Africa are badly off,” Mwandido told The Standard from Paris, where he is based.
He stressed that negotiations are key: “Good deals can come from anywhere—Africa, Europe, or the US—but they must be under firm commercial contracts.”
Mwandido has also performed several times in Kenya at the invitation of COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
The late Franco Luambo Makiadi of TP OK Jazz also spent much of his life in Paris before moving to Brussels, where he died in 1989. Among his protégés is songstress Nana Akumu, now based in Brussels. She has collaborated with Mwandido and Faya Tess in popular European entertainment venues.
“These places have superior recording facilities, and the returns are better compared to African shows,” said Akumu, who turns 65 in September.
She attributed the mass relocation of Congolese artistes to corruption and political instability back home. “We lost millions of dollars through past regimes, and that’s why many of us settled in places like Brussels and Paris,” she said.
However, she praised former President Mobutu Sese Seko for ensuring musicians were fully paid during his rule. “Political instability forced us to look for professional bases away from home,” she added.
Tabu Ley Rochereau of Afrisa International and Sam Mangwana of African All Stars also spent long stints in Paris and Brussels. Mangwana, now retired in Luanda, Angola, reflected: “We did our best for close to five decades, and we are happy with the years of collaboration across Africa and Europe.”
Soukous Stars—led by Lokassa Ya Mbongo, Ballou Canta, guitarists Diblo Dibala and Ngouma Lokito, and singer Yondo Sister—were originally based in Abidjan before moving to Paris and later the US. Lokassa died in the US in 2023, but Lokito continues to perform there.
Kwasa Kwasa kingpin Kanda Bongo Man, now living in the UK, said the superior equipment abroad still attracts professional musicians. “The quality of machines here is superb, and the studios are of high standards compared to those in Africa,” he said.
Pepe Kallé, real name Kabaselleh Ya Mpanya, spent much of his career in Abidjan, where his Empire Bakuba Orchestra thrived. Samba Mapangala, now based in Maryland, US, first moved to Nairobi in the 1970s with Orchestra Virunga, alongside Orchestra Super Mazembe.
Both groups toured extensively across Kenya, and many members eventually became naturalized citizens.
Rhumba expert Mfumu Kimbangu likened Congolese music to a “cash crop,” saying it is overproduced at home and exported worldwide. “Those based abroad are part of the export, while the upcoming and retired ones keep the cities of DRC alive,” he said.
The late Remmy Ongala, popularly known as Sura Mbaya, also traced his roots to the DRC. His grandparents migrated to Tanzania and settled in Songea, where Ongala developed his skills before forming Orchestra Super Matimila. He became a household name in Tanzania until his death in 2010.