Kanda Bongo Man

Kanda Bongo Man (born 1955 in Inongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo) is a Congolese soukous musician who became the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley Rochereau. His solo career only started to take off after moving to Paris in 1979, where his music started to incorporate elements of then-vibrant zouk music (originating in the French West Indies). 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, including "Kwasa Kwasa" and "Amour Fou". Kanda Bongo Man still tours in Europe and the United States. On July, 2005, he performed at the Live8: Africa Calling concert in Cornwall.

Links To Peel
Championed by John Peel and Andy Kershaw in the late 80’s, Kanda Bongo Man developed a huge loyal fanbase, and was a key figure in the introduction of African & World music to the mainstream. Kanda Bongo Man did two sessions for Peel's show in 1993 and 2003. At the Glastonbury Festival in 2003, Peel saw the artist perform live and was shown on BBC's Glastonbury television coverage dancing to his performance, which was very rare for Peel to do. Before Peel introduced Kanda Bongo Man at Glastonbury on television, he mentioned himself dancing to the artist:


 *  'You may spot a vaguely familiar face amongst the crowd dancing I've been told, dancing, this is the wonderful magnificent Kanda Bongo Man' 

Sessions
1. Recorded: 1993-06-16. Broadcast: 30 July 1993 2. Recorded: 2002-02-20. Broadcast: 26 February 2002
 * Yesu Christu / Sai / Wallow
 * Sancho / Yesu Christu / Bili

Live
Recorded at Glastonbury: 2003-06-27. Broadcast: 21 August 2003
 * 1) Wallow
 * 2) Bili
 * 3) Muchana
 * 4) Amour Perdu
 * 5) Yesu Christu
 * 6) Sana

Other Shows Played
1990
 * 09 May 1990: Susi Ya Motema

1991
 * 06 June 1990: Likambo (album - Kanda Bongo Man presents Diasi Kadi) Ockland
 * 12 June 1990: Likambo (album - Kanda Bongo Man presents Diasi Kadi) Ockland
 * 01 June 1991: Mazina (LP - Non Stop Non Stop) Globestyle

1992 1993
 * 02 August 1991 (BFBS): Mosali / Monie (LP - Zing-Zong) Hannibal
 * 04 August 1991: Mosale (album - Zing-Zong) Hannibal
 * 10 August 1991: Zing-Zong (album - Zing-Zong) Hannibal
 * 23 August 1991 (BFBS): Yonde Love Me (CD - Zing-Zong) Hannibal
 * 29 May 1992: Naloti (album - Kwassa Kwassa) Hannibal
 * 30 May 1992: Wazena (Album - Kwassa Kwassa) Hannibal
 * 22 January 1993: Sana (LP - Le Rendez-Vous Des Stades) KBM


 * 07 February 1993 (BFBS): Sana (album - Le Rendez-Vous Des Stades) K.B.M.

1996 1999 2001
 * 07 May 1993: 'Liza (CD-Soukous In Central Park)' (Hannibal)
 * 28 May 1993 (BFBS): Wallow (CD: Soukous In Central Park) Hannibal
 * 13 January 1996 (BFBS): 'Yolanda (CD-Welcome To South Africa)' (B.Mas Productions)
 * 09 June 1999: Monie (LP – Zing Zong) Hannibal
 * 10 June 1999: Wallow (LP -Zing Zong) Hannibal
 * 26 April 2001: 'Iyole' (LP 'Afrique Dynamique') Nascente

2002
 * 04 December 2001: Monie (LP – The Very Best Of Kanda Bongo Man) Nascente
 * 11 December 2001: 'Sango (CD - The Very Best Of)’ (Nascente)
 * 19 December 2001: Monie (LP – The Very Best Of Kanda Bonga Man) Nascente
 * 02 January 2002: Iyole (LP – The Very Best Of Kanda Bongo Man) Nascente
 * 15 January 2002: Iyole (unknown) Nascente

2003
 * 16 May 2002: Iyole (unknown) Nascente
 * 01 July 2003: 'Mosali (LP- Zing Zong)' (Hannibal)

2004
 * 02 July 2003: 'Monie (LP- Zing Zong)' (Hannibal)
 * 03 July 2003: 'Yonde Love Me (LP- Zing Zong)' (Hannibal)
 * 01 July 2004: 'Naloti (LP-Kwassa Kwassa)' (Hannibal)
 * 24 November 2004 (Rob Da Bank): 'Liza' (Rykodisc) (6.32)


 * 22 December 2004 (Rob Da Bank): 'Yesu Christo' - (Nascent)