Kanda Bongo Man
Kanda Bongo Man, born in 1955 in Inongo in the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) of the Bandundu people, left school at the age of 18 to join a local Kinshasa band, playing the hot rhumba sound of the time. He quickly moved on to play with the Orchestre Bella Mambo in 1976. He jumped from band to band, but still considers Bella Mambo to have been one of the best congolese bands of all time.
Kanda Bongo Man is one the most famous exponents of Soukous music from the Democratic Republic of Congo and has been at the heart of the Parisian Soukous scene since the 80's.He is the man who gave the world Kwassa Kwassa, the infectiously changed Congolese dance style, and is credited as being one of the pioneers of modern Soukous.
Kanda's rise in popularity came with the album Iyole which became a number one hit all over the world. He has created a winning Soukous formula that has sold thousands of albums worldwide, some of which you may already be familiar with - such as:Sweet, Amour fau, Iyole, Kwassa Kwassa and Live in Central Park.Kanda Bongo Man, also known as "the nightingale from Zaire" presents an exciting and fast moving show of music and dance.
The Music - Soukous is known for its shimmering dual guitar parts, which produce an intensity that is hypnotic on the dance floor. The Dance - Kwassa Kwassa, where the hips move back an forth while the hands move to follow the hips is performed with amazing dexterity by his exhilarating. Kanda is poised to tour Australia/New Zealand next year in 2008.
Adapted from Kanda`s site and New African site.
