Soukous Stars

Lokassa Ya Mbongo, Ballou Canta and Shimita El Diego formed the Soukous Stars with master guitarist Dally Kimoko in 1990 as an outgrowth of their experiences playing together in Les Quatre Etoiles in the '80s. They are joined by Zitany Neil, Shunga Omba (aka Ngouma) and Denise Yondo Kusala.

Soukous Stars has been pleasing U.S.A.-based African music fans for several years and are among the most interesting and authentic Congolese touring acts based full-time in America. One glimpse at a sampling of Soukous Stars albums over the past decade and one theme is certainly evident: The band has hosted top session players and singers. Kasse Mady Diabate, JM Bolongassa, Mavungu, Alain Hatot, Pompom Kuleta, Diassy Kadi, Manou Lima, Nene "Tchakou-Tchakou" all grace this album.

The band performs the latest Congolese grooves and dance crazes from Kinshasa as well as a healthy dose of rumba Congolaise, including songs by Franco and featuring originals by Lokassa Ya Mbongo, Ngouma Lokito, Jirbo Ntunta and Chico Mawatu.

The band has been known as a proponent of the slick Paris- based soukous style, which truncated the more traditional Congolese rumba by focusing solely on the sabene (guitar solo/animation finale portion of the more traditional Congolese rumba).

After four decades of evolution, modern soukous now faces a new sun, a prismatic brightness known as Soukous Stars. They know how to keep people's feet on fire all night. —Courtesy Calabash Music