Kanda Bongo Man

**Kanda Bongo Man** (born **Bongo Kanda**; 1955) is a Congolese soukous musician.

Kanda Bongo Man was born in Inongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He became the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley. His solo career only started to take off after he moved in 1979 to Paris, where his music started to incorporate elements of then-vibrant zouk music popularized by Kassav (originating in the French West Indies). His first solo albums, *Iyole* in 1981 and *Djessy* in 1982, were hits.

He is known for the structural changes he implemented to soukous music. The previous approach was to sing several verses and have one guitar solo at the end of the song. Kanda Bongo Man revolutionized soukous by encouraging guitar solos after every verse and even sometimes at the beginning of the song. His form of soukous gave birth to the kwassa kwassa dance rhythm where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.

Like many African rumba and soukous musicians before him, Kanda Bongo Man also had an entourage of musicians. Many of Kanda's musicians later moved on to start their own solo careers. Most notable of these was Diblo Dibala. Known as "Machine Gun", Diblo Dibala was a vital part of Kanda Bongo Man's lineup on several albums, playing guitar on both *Kwasa Kwasa* and *Amour Fou*.

Kanda Bongo Man still tours in Europe and the United States. In July 2005 he performed at the LIVE 8: Africa Calling concert in Cornwall. He has performed several times at the Africa Oyé Festival in Liverpool, most recently in June 2022.

## Links to Kershaw

Championed by John Peel and Andy Kershaw, the singer was a favourite on both shows, including sessions recorded for their programmes, as well as plenty of airplays.

## Sessions

1. Recorded: 1988-02-18. First Broadcast: 03 March 1988. Repeated: 14 April 1988, 07 July 1988

* Djessy / Iyole / Amour Fou / J.T.

2. Recorded: 1989-11-14. First Broadcast: 07 January 1990

* Sai / Bedy / Bayembi

3. Recorded: 1993-06-16. First Broadcast: 21 August 1993

* Luta / Lela Lela / Billil

## Live

Recorded at the 100 Club. First Broadcast: 30 November 2001

1. Balobi
2. Muchata
3. Lady

Recorded at the Wardrobe, Leeds: 2006-05-07. First Broadcast: 14 May 2006

1. Te Te
2. Rose Rose
3. Monie

Recorded at the WOMAD Festival. First Broadcast: 15 October 2006

1. Muchanda
2. Amor Perdu
3. Jesu Christu
4. Monie

## Other Shows Played

1988
* 07 January 1988: Ekipe (LP - Amour Fou / Crazy Love) Hannibal
* 01 December 1988: Malinga (album - Amour Fou / Crazy Love) Hannibal

1989
* 09 July 1989: Bedy (album - Sai-Liza) Kanda Bongo Man

1991
* 10 March 1991: Isambe (LP - Isambe - Monie) Mélodie
* 29 December 1991: Isambe (CD - Zing Zong) Hannibal

1993
* 15 May 1993: Lela Lela (CD - Soukous In Central Park) Hannibal

1995
* 23 July 1995: Tika Kolela
* 17 December 1995: Belle Amie (CD - Kwassa Kwassa) Hannibal

1996
* 08 December 1996: Sai

1997
* 02 February 1997: Assali

1999
* 09 December 1999: Sweet Ntumba (CD - Sweet) Air B

2001
* 19 October 2001: Sai (CD - The Very Best Of) Nascente
* 23 November 2001: Isambe (CD - Zing Zong) Hannibal

2003
* 23 November 2003: Swalati (CD - Swalati) Gallo

2004
* 11 January 2004: Congo Reconciliation (CD - Swalati) Gallo
* 18 April 2004: Sai (CD - Kwassa Kwassa) Hannibal

2006
* 30 April 2006: Sai (CD - Kwassa Kwassa) Hannibal
* 08 October 2006: Sai (CD - Kwassa Kwassa) Hannibal

2023
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 26: Rose Rose (album - Kekete Bue) No Wahala Sounds

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs