Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Awilo Longomba (Congo-Kinshasa)

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Awilo Longomba's talent didn't come from far: his father, Vicky Longomba was a composer and singer in the 1960s and 1970s who performed with all-time greatest star from Kinshasa, Franco. Awilo's star rose slowly but steadily. He was drummer in Papa Wemba's Viva La Musica. In an interview he acknowledged that he learnt a lot from Papa Wemba and that Papa Wemba did a lot for Congolese musicians. In the early 1990s, he was drummer in La Nouvelle République, where he was also engaged in the production of the album Porokondo (1994). In 1995, Awilo released his first solo album, that caught the attention of the public and critics because of his fresh approach in compositions and solid production. The second album was even more successful through hits like Coupé Bibamba with catchy song lines: Comment tu t'appelles? Je m'appelle... Coupé Coupé Bibamba! On his third album he continues in the same direction, mixing soukous with techno influences. His popularity is probably bigger in countries as Cameroon than in his home country. Born: Style: soukous

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