Don't call it soukous: The many sub-styles of Congolese rumba
The Clave ChroniclesPlay episode
Show notes
Congolese scholar Ribio Nzeza Bunketi Buse joins Rebecca to speak about the many sub-styles and evolutions within Congolese popular music over the past 60 years. While many in the West refer to the music as "soukous," that's only one specific style of rumba, which also includes rumba chachacha (Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz), rumba odemba (Franco Luambo & OK Jazz), rumba cavacha (Zaiko Langa Langa), and ndombolo (Wenge Musica, Koffi Olomide, Papa Wemba). Dr. Nzeza also explains the significance of the seben, the improvisatory second section of a rumba song featuring virtuosic guitar playing.
Songs played:
Madre Rumba, La Sonora Matancera featuring Celia Cruz and Celio Gonzalez
Africa Mokili Mobimba, Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz
Alimatou, Franco Luambo & OK Jazz
Nzinzi, King Kester Emeneya
Mulolo, Wenge Musica
An homage to Grand Kallé (Joseph) Kabasele by Cuban artists and musicians:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY-BVoI93Q4
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Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions
