{"id":10198,"date":"2025-02-15T17:53:20","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T21:53:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kenyapage.net\/commentary\/?p=10198"},"modified":"2025-02-15T20:46:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-16T00:46:26","slug":"zaiko-langa-langa-the-most-illustrious-band-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kenyapage.net\/commentary\/afromusic\/zaiko-langa-langa-the-most-illustrious-band-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Zaiko Langa Langa: The most Illustrious band in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Democratic Republic of Congo has produced more famous musicians than any other country in Africa. And no band has produced more famous and successful musicians than the legendary band Zaiko Langa Langa. The list of famous musicians who have passed through “Zaiko” as the band is popularly known reads like a “who is who” of Congolese music. These musicians went on to form popular bands which produced more great musicians. Collectively, musicians who performed for Zaiko Langa or the bands offshoots are known as Clan Langa Langa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Members of Zaiko who formed successful offshoots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td><\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
<\/td>Papa Wemba<\/td>He was one of the original members of Zaiko and went on to found various groups including Yoka Lokole, Isifii Lokole and Viva La Musica<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>Bozi Boziana<\/td>He had two stints in Zaiko and went on to Langa Langa Stars, Choc Stars before forming his own group known as Anti Choc<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Nyoka Longo<\/td>He is the only original member of the band who never left, having joined in 1969 and taking over the reins as President when DV Moanda passed on in 1984<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Pepe Felly Manuaku Waku<\/td>The solo guitarist was one of the original members of the band. He left in 1980 to form Grand Zaiko Wawa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Andre Bimi Ombale<\/td>He started off as a drummer in Zaiko, before becoming of the Lead singers in the mid 1970s. He remained there until a major split in the band led to him joining the faction known as Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Lengi Lenga ya Lengos<\/td>Like Bimi, he joined in the early 1970s before creating Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei along with Ilo Pablo, Bimi and JP Buse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Evoloko Jocker<\/td>The effervescent singer was a prominent vocalist for Zaiko until he left to form Langa Langa Stars which was one of the most popular bands in Zaire in the early 1980s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Famous Musicians who are part of “Clan Langa Langa”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
\"\"<\/a><\/th>Koffi Olomide<\/th>Perhaps the most famous member of Clan Langa Langa, he started his career at Viva La Musica which was formed by Papa Wemba<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Jolie Detta<\/td>She gained prominence while singing for Anti Choc, a band formed by Bozi Boziana. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>General Defao<\/td>First gained prominence singing for Grand Zaiko Wawa before joining Choc Stars which was an offshoot of Langa Langa Stars<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Ben Nyamabo and Lassa Carlito<\/td>Ben Nyamabo performed for Langa Langa Stars before forming Choc Stars where he would later recruit Lassa Carlito<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Mukangi Deyesse<\/td>She first gained prominence singing for Anti Choc which was formed by Bozi Boziana<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td><\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Other Members of Zaiko Langa Langa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
\"\"<\/a><\/th>Dindo Yogo<\/th>Th\u00e9odore Dindo Mabeli, aka Dindo Yogo is also known as \"La Voix Cass\u00e9e\" due to his breaking voice. He joined Papa Wemba;s Viva La Musica in 1978 before joining Langa Langa Stars in 1981 then Zaiko Langa Langa in 1984. He remained in the band until 1991 when he left to pursue a solo career. He passed away in 2000. <\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Likinga Redo<\/td>Jean Likinga Mangenza Redo first made a name for himself in Empire Bakuba from 1971 to 1974. He would then leave Bakuba to join Zaiko Langa Langa following the departure of stalwarts like Papa Wemba, Evoloko and Mavuela. His classic hit Anitalia was one of the anthems of the 1980s. Shortly after this he was convicted of being a drug trafficker and sent to Prison in Portugal. He returned in 1988 ands briefly joined the Familia Dei Faction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Gina Efonge<\/td>His real name is Jean-Pierre Efong\u00e9 Isekofeta. He was one of the first musicians to join Zaiko. He left the band in 1973 and went into a period of inactivity. He resurfaced again in 1977 with his own band known as \"Libanko\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>ILO Pablo<\/td>His full name is Pablo Bakunde Ilondjoko. He joined Zaiko in 1974 as a replacement for Belobi Meridjo who had been sent to prison. He was part of the group that joined Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Mavuela Somo<\/td>The vocalist Sim\u00e9on Mavuela Somo aka \"Cheikh Vuelas was one of the original members of Zaiko<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Beniko Popolipo<\/td>Beniko Zangilu Makiadi populalrly known as \"Popolipo\" or \"Zero Faute Beniko, is one of the best guitar wizards in the history of Congolese music. In the early 1970s, he featured with Isifi Lokole which was a Zaiko offshoot before joining Zaiko Langa Langa. In the late 1980s, he joined the Zaiko Familia Dei faction. When that faction folded in 1997, he joined Quartier Latin. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>Endho Ndumba<\/td>Endho was a key member of Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei. When the group disbanded, he joined Zaiko Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka, the outfit led by Nioka Longo. He would later join Bana OK in the mid 1990s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

List of Bands in Clan Langa Langa<\/h2>\nClan Langa Langa is the list of bands created by former members of Zaiko Langa Langa and the musicians who performed in these bands. <\/span>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Band<\/th>Key Members<\/th>Years<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Viva La Musica<\/td>Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomide, Kester Emeneya<\/td>1977 - Present<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Isifi Lokole<\/td> Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana, Evoloko Jocker, Mavuela Somo
\n<\/td>		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grand Za\u00efko Wa Wa<\/td>Created by Pepe Felly and included Shimita El Diego and<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Choc Stars<\/td>Bozi Boziana, Roxy Tshimpaka, Ben Nyamabo, Lassa Carlito, Defao<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei<\/td>JP Buse, Lengi Lenga, Endho, Jimmy Yaba, Marius, Baby Atalaku, Beniko Popolipo, Avedila Nkiambi, Manzeku Makale, Kabamba Vonvon, Bakunde ILo Pablo, Joe Moplat.<\/td>1988<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Za\u00efko Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka<\/td>N'Yoka Longo, Belobi Meridjo, Dindo Yogo, Oncle Bapius Muaka, Enock Zamuangana, Nono Monzoloku Matima Mpioso, Malage de Lugendo, Adamo, Baroza, Shiro Shiro<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Langa Langa Stars<\/td>Evoloko Jocker, Bozi Boziana, Roxy Tshimpaka, Djo Mali<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anti Choc<\/td>Bozi Boziana, Jolie Detta, Mukangi Deyesse, Anytha Ngapy, Dodoli, Fifi Mofude, Wally Ngonda<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grand Zaiko Wawa<\/td>Pepe Felly Manuaku Waku<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zaiko Universel<\/td>Belobi Meridjo, Muaka Bapius<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yoka Lokole<\/td>Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana, Mavuela Somo<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Basilique Loningisa<\/td>Bimi Ombale<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ngwaka Aye<\/td>Dindo Yogo<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les Stars de Zaiko<\/td>Adamo Ekula, Petit Poisson, Tshanda, Papy Cocaine,<\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n
\n\t\t\t
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