The Rhythmic Journey of Kanda Bongo Man: From Bella Mambo to Soukous Sensation, Plus Video Mix of Kanda's Best Hits

Kanda Bongo Man is a Congolese musician born in the Bandundu province in 1955. He is renowned for his energetic live performances and his ability to blend traditional African rhythms with Caribbean rumba. Kanda is considered one of the foremost figures in modern African popular music.

Kanda BONGOMAN.

Kanda's musical journey began at a young age, as he formed his first band, Orchestre Bella Mambo, with his two brothers, Soki Vangu and Soki Dianzenza, at the age of 15 in 1973.

The band later changed its name to Bella Bella and toured East Africa, introducing their newly created music style, Soukous, to audiences.

Soukous is a fusion of Caribbean rumba and traditional African rhythms, and Kanda's contribution to the genre was instrumental in popularizing it around the world.

After several years of performing with Bella Bella, Kanda traveled to Paris in 1979 to pursue various jobs, including working at a glass factory.

He eventually landed a recording contract in 1981 and started working with guitarists Diblo Dibala and Rigo Starr to develop unique Soukous rhythms. His debut productions, Iyole and Djessy, reflect his ability to combine African dance with good melodies — a mix that he nurtured as his style.

Kanda's first international live performance was in 1985 when he performed at the Womad festival in the UK. Since then, he has released a number of albums, most of which have popularized his swinging guitar-based dance music around the world.

Amour Fou/Crazy Love, released on the Hannibal label in 1988, is rated as the best of his 1980s’ albums. The follow-up, Kwasa Kwasa, released in 1989 in France under the title Sai-Liza, showcased classics like Lela Lela, Sai, Cantique, and Bedy.

Some of his other notable releases include Non Stop Non Stop on the Globestyle label in 1990 and Isambe Monie, which was released later the same year under the Melodie label.

The album Zing Zong, released on the Hannibal label in 1991, was a memorial album for his two brothers who died within a space of the same year, 1989-90. The song Freres Soki is dedicated to them. Sango was his next production under the Melodic label and was released in 1992.

Kanda Bongo Man is known for his unique style of incorporating riveting guitar solos within each verse of his songs, unlike typical soukous songs where the guitar solos come at the end of the singing.

His music is characterized by its high-energy rhythms and his ability to blend traditional African rhythms with Caribbean rumba.