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Kanda Bongo Man was born in the Congolese province of Bandundu in 1955 In 2005, Kanda performed at the Africa Live 8 concert in cornwall. He still tours regularly sometimes accompanied by musicians like Malage de Lugendo.<\/p>\n With Sara Obama, Barrack Obama’s grandmother<\/p>\n
\nKanda is an energetic performer, who spices up his concerts with vigorous dance moves and a pinch of showmanship.
\nKanda one of the foremost figures in modern African popular music. He formed his first band at the age of 15 in 1973, with his two brothers, Soki Vangu and Soki Dianzenza. The band, Orchestre Bella Mambo (later Bella Bella), toured East africa with their newly created music style Soukous \u2014 a fusion of Caribbean rumba and traditional African rhythms.
\nSometime in 1979, Kanda went to Paris and pursued various jobs including a stint at a glass factory, before getting a recording contract in 1981. With guitarists Diblo Dibala and Rigo Starr, he developed unique Soukous rhythms.
\nHis debut productions, Iyole <\/em>and Djessy,<\/em> reflect his ability to combine African dance with good melodies \u2014 a mix that he nurtured as his style.
\nHis first international live performance was in 1985, when he featured at the Womad festival in the UK.
\nKanda has since then been credited with a rack of albums, most of which have popularised his swinging guitar-based dance music the world over.
\nAmour Fou\/Crazy Love,<\/em> released on the Hannibal label in 1988, is rated as the best of his 1980s\u2019 albums.
\nThe follow-up Kwasa Kwasa,<\/em> released in 1989 in France under the title Sai-Liza<\/em>, showcased classics likeLela Lela, Sai, Cantique <\/em>and Bedy.<\/em> The songs have a melancholic undertone that is typical in Congolese music. Some of the other notable releases include Non Stop Non Stop<\/em> on the Globestyle label in 1990.
\nDiblo Dibala featured on this historically important album.
\nIsambe Monie<\/em> was released later the same year under the Melodie label. The album Zing Zong<\/em> on Hannibal label in 1991 was a memorial album for his two brothers, who died within a space of the same year, 1989-90. The song Freres Soki<\/em> is dedicated to them. Sango<\/em> was next production under Melodic label and was released in 1992.
\nWhen he toured Kenya in 2004 , some of the tracks he performed at the Bomas included Bawiri, Swalati, Ami<\/em> from his latest CD, besides past hits like Muchana, Sai, Wallow <\/em>and Une Deux Monie.<\/em> But it was only Sai <\/em>and Une Deux Monie<\/em> that drew fans to the dance floor \u2014 no doubt enchanted and thrilled to watch their music hero up close.
\nThough Kanda Bongo Man plays in the ubiquitous soukous style, his songs are famous for incorporating riveting guitar solos within each verse. This is unlike typical soukous songs where the guitar solos come at the end of the singing.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/kenyapage.net\/music\/images\/kanda-sara.jpg\")
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