1.2. History of Lingala Songs
Congo music, also known as Congolese music or Rumba Lingala, is a genre that originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo. It emerged from a fusion of traditional African rhythms and melodies with influences from Cuban and Caribbean music during the early 20th century. The genre has since evolved to incorporate elements from jazz, funk, rock, and even electronic music.
Congolese music is one of the most influential1.2.1. Congolese Music before Colonial period to the independence day
In the 1930s and 1940s, the music of Cuban son groups,
such ascreated and1.2.2. Congolese Music from independence until today
Soukous now spread across Africa and became an influence
on virtually all the styles of modern African popular music, includingZaiko and post Zaiko (c. 1970–90)
Influential figures of Soukous and its offshoots (N’dombolo, Rumba Rock) are Franco Luambo, Tabu Ley, Simaro Lutumba, Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomide, Kanda Bongo Man, Ray Lema, Mpongo Love, Abeti Masikini, Reddy Amisi, Pepe Kalle, and Nyoka Longo. One of the most talented and respected pioneers of African rhumba is Tabu Ley Pascal Rochereau.
Congolese modern music is also influenced in part by its
politics. Zaire, then in 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko took over, and despite massive corruption, desperate economic failure, and the attempted military uprising of 1991, he held on until the eve of his death in 1997, when the president, Laurent Kabila. Kabila inherited a nearly ungovernable shell of a nation. He renamed it the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Kabila could not erase the ruinous effects of the Belgian and Mobutu legacies, and the country is now in a state of chronic civil war. Mobutu instilled a deep fear of dissent and failed to develop his country’s vast resources. But the walls he built around his people and his attempts to boost cultural and national pride certainly contributed to the environment that bred Africa’s most influential pop music. Call it soukous, rumba, Zairois, Congo music, or kwassa-kwassa, the pop sound emanating from Congo’s capital, Kinshasa has shaped modern African culture more profoundly than any other.
Africa produces music genres that are direct derivatives of Congolese Soukous. Some of the African bands sing in Lingala, the main language in the DRC. The same Congolese Soukous, under the guidance of «le sapeur» Papa Wemba, set the tone for a generation of young guys who dress in expensive designer clothing. The numerous singers and instrumentalists who passed through Zaiko Langa Langa went on to rule Kinshasa’s bustling music scene in the ’80s with such bands as Choc Stars and Papa Wemba’s Viva la Musica.
One erstwhile member of Viva la Musica, Koffi Olomidé, has
been indisputably the biggest Zairean/Congolese star since the early ’90s. His chief rivals are two veterans of the band Wenge Musica, J.B. Mpiana and Werrason. Mpiana and Werrason each claims to be the originator of ndombolo, a style that intersperses shouts with bursts of vocal melody and harmony over a frenetic din of electric guitars, synthesizers and drums. So pervasive is this style today that even Koffi Olomidé’s current repertory is mostly Ndombolo.
The 1990-2010 period is Marked by the rise of the musical
group Wenge Musica, it is the time of the glory of the Congolese music. The music of Congo takes the name of “ndombolo”. The outstanding figures of this era are the singers JB Mpiana and his rival Werrason, both from Wenge Musica.
The 2010 period is marked by the birth of two great figures of
this generation; it is about Fally Ipupa (ex-musician of the Latin Quarter International group of Koffi Olomide where he could learn the style of his boss during 8 years, of 1999 to 2006, being also conductor at the beginning of 2002 until his departure). Also, Ferre Gola (former musician of Wenge Musica group then of Wenge Musica Mother House of Werrason from 1997 to 2004 also passing by Koffi Olomide) could evolve alongside his current rival, Fally, from May 2005 to June 2006.
In the today’s generation, we have seen the rise a multiple Congolese singers in which we can easily cite some of them: Frabegas, The MPR group, Inno’s B, Heritier Watanabe and many others.
