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The Soukous, Congolese Rumba

By Clovis Mwamba

 MELBOURNE - This article shows the importance of the names expressing the personality and destiny in the Congolese and African culture, below the Sahara. An example is the name of a singer of “Soukous”, famous among the Congolese and African immigrants, Madilu System, who passed away last year. Soon to perform to the public are the singers of Soukous in Australia, Leona and King Bell.  

Rumba was born in Africa and transported to America at the time of slavery. The music merged with Spanish music in Cuba. Rumba returned to the Belgian Congo in 1950 and merged again with the local music, giving birth to the music "Afro-Cuban" - modern Congolese music.
Today, this music is widespread in Africa and the world.
 

In Australia, it is known as "Soukous."  In Victoria, King Bell and Leona are the practitioners of this style of music.
 

The political dimension of the Congolese Rumba has created its success in Africa. It participated in the liberation struggle embodied by colonial independence in 1960 and during the neo-colonial period, illustrated by the presence of Ernesto Che Guevara in the jungle of Congo in 1965.

The Cuban state has honoured the memory of Josef Kabasele, called Kallé Jef, the father of Congolese Rumba (1930-1982) and the Golden Jubilee of the Tropicana Ballet (1935-1985). At the end of the Cold War, after witnessing the withdrawal of Cuban troops in Angola, Ballet Tropicana was authorised to present this tribute to the Congolese people in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1989.