Loukassa Ya Mbongo

The longtime rhythm guitarist for Kanda Bongo Guy, Lokassa Ya Mbongo helped to transform the Soukous, a fast-paced fusion of traditional Congoese melodies and Afro-Cuban rhythms, into a global dance craze. Mbongo showcased his dynamic playing on songs included on such multi-artist anthologies as Megamix, Vol. 1, and Soukous Celebrities and Gozando. Mbongo’s collaborations consist of use Tshale Muana, the “queen” of Mutuashi, a dance design well-known in the Kasai area, and Eurodisco-influenced vocalist Fode Baro of Guinea. Ahead of departing his homeland and settling in Paris in 1983, Mbongo performed with Tabu Rochereau’s Afrisa and Sam Mangwana’s African All Celebrities.