The
group 'Embowassa' was created in 1985 by Didi Ekukuan (Lead
vocals and guitar), Bondo Lumembo (Lead Vocals, drums and
percussion), Nyoka 'Bronson' Muyansi (Bass) and three other
musicians that left quickly the group : Walla, Sona and
Sassa. The name of the group is a mix of their initials.
After some time Rigo Katombi (Backing vocals, violin and
keyboards) joined the band.
Their artistic choice was to create an original music based
on the folk-music of Zaïre and not to take part of
the sukus-rumba trend.
The music of Embowassa has its roots in the folklore of
Congo-Zaïre and more specifically of the centre of
the country. This is very obvious in their way of singing
and the use of traditional rhythms such as the mutuashi
of Kasai, or rhythms of the Yansi and Mbila tribes, etc.
The band won in 1986 the Coca-Cola competition for Central
Africa of which the price was a recording in a professional
studio in Kinshasa, but their manager went away with the
money.
In 1987, they made a musical workshop with Jimmy Cliff from
Jamaica. From 1986 to 1990, they played regularly in Kinshasa
with increasing success. |
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- @ 2005 Robert Falk