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The Rumba Kings

The Rumba Kings

Congo's real treasure does not lie underground
May 06, 2021 1h 35m
9
2 votes

Synopsis

In the fifties, when the future Democratic Republic of Congo was still a Belgian colony, an entire generation of musicians fused traditional African tunes with Afro-Cuban music to create the electrifying Congolese rumba, a style that conquered the entire continent thanks to an infectious rhythm, captivating guitar sounds and smooth vocals.

Title The Rumba Kings
Companies Shift Visual Lab
Countries United States of America
Keywords racism, music history, colonialism, 1950s, 1960s, music documentary, democratic republic of the congo, african music, african history, african art, belgian history, decolonization, congolese rumba
Simaro Lutumba

Simaro Lutumba

Self - Musician
Roitelet

Roitelet

Self - Musician
Manu Dibango

Manu Dibango

Self - Musician
Paul Mwanga

Paul Mwanga

Self - Singer
Papa Wemba

Papa Wemba

Self - Singer
Verckys Kiamanguana

Verckys Kiamanguana

Self - Musician
Brazzos

Brazzos

Self - Musician
Papa Noel

Papa Noel

Self - Musician
Kuka Mathieu

Kuka Mathieu

Self - Singer
Manuaku

Manuaku

Self - Musician
Guvano

Guvano

Self - Musician
Maproco

Maproco

Self - Musician
Petit Pierre

Petit Pierre

Self - Musician
Bombenga

Bombenga

Self - Singer
Rolly

Rolly

Self - Singer
Fagus Izeidi

Fagus Izeidi

Self - Musician
Paul Mizele

Paul Mizele

Self - Singer
Bikunda

Bikunda

Self - Musician
Rex Lusukamu

Rex Lusukamu

Self - Musician
Yossa Taluki

Yossa Taluki

Self - Musician
Fracasseur

Fracasseur

Self - Musician
Manda Tchebwa

Manda Tchebwa

Self - African Music Historian
Clément Ossinondé

Clément Ossinondé

Self - Music Journalist
Jean-Pierre Nimy Nzonga

Jean-Pierre Nimy Nzonga

Self - Congolese Music Historian
Lubangi Muniania

Lubangi Muniania

Self - African Art Historian
Biyevanga Lengemi

Biyevanga Lengemi

Self - Music Critic
Raoul Yema Die Lala

Raoul Yema Die Lala

Self - Franco's Biographer
Yves Luambo

Yves Luambo

Self - Franco's Son
Victor Cornelis

Victor Cornelis

Self - Musician
Aime Bassay

Aime Bassay

Self - Music Copyright Expert
Jhimmy

Jhimmy

Self - Musician (archive footage)
Grand Kallé

Grand Kallé

Self - Singer (archive footage)
Docteur Nico

Docteur Nico

Self - Musician (archive footage)
Franco

Franco

Self - Musician (archive footage)
King Baudouin of Belgium

King Baudouin of Belgium

Self (archive footage)
Patrice Lumumba

Patrice Lumumba

Self - Politician (archive footage)
Thomas Kanza

Thomas Kanza

Self - Diplomat (voice) (archive footage)
Jean Bolikango

Jean Bolikango

Self - Politician (archive footage)
Joseph Kasa-Vubu

Joseph Kasa-Vubu

Self - Politician (archive footage)