Session singer who became one of the first Paris-based soukous stars, setting the standard with several '80s LPs. He is a top session musician and tours extensively in the West, and was one of the founders of the supergroup Loketo. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

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A virtuosic approach to the guitar has made Diblo Dibala one of the top instrumentalists of modern African music. Dibala's 1980s recordings with soukous vocalist Kanda Bongo Man made him an internationally-recognized star. While his band, Loketo, featuring vocalist Aurul Mabele, failed to match the success of his collaboration with Bongo Man,... [+] Read More

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There's no doubt that Franco was, in every sense of the word, a big man in African music. Sometimes weighing in at 300 pounds, he also earned his nickname as "The Sorcerer of the Guitar," making it sing like no one before, with effortless, fluid lines. Also an accomplished composer and vocalist, Francois Luambo Makiadi remains a towering figure... [+] Read More

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According to the liner notes of the multi-artist compilation African Ambience: The Ultimate African Dance Party, released in 2000, Loketo was "a sort of Zairian supergroup of 'new generation' musicians known for a super-tight, high-energy, show with spectacular dancing and flawless vocals". One of the most important bands in the evolution of... [+] Read More

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Samba Mapangala left Zaire and settled in Kenya in the late '70s. He first led a soukous band of Zairian musicians called Les Kinois (Kinshasa Boys). When they broke up, he looked for local talent and formed Virunga, a group that takes soukous and adds Kenya's benga beat, as well as Western rock and blues influences. ~ J. Poet, All Music Guide

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Salif Keita gave up a lot to pursue his dreams of a career in music. Born to royal lineage, with ancestral roots going back to Soundjata Keita, the founder of the Malian Empire in 1240, Keita was disowned by his father after announcing his plans to play music. Keita's dreams, however, were too strong to be shattered. Moving to the capitol city... [+] Read More

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Tabu Ley Rochereau (born Tabu Ley) is one of Africa's most influential vocalists and one of its most prolific songwriters. Since making his professional debut, in 1954, as a member of Joseph "Grand Kalle" Kabasele's band, African Jazz, Rochereau has written more than two thousand songs. Together with his band, Orchestre Afrisa International,... [+] Read More

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Formed in 1976 as Papa Wemba's backing band, the group records prolifically without him as well, usually turning in more mainstream fare. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

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