Lokua Kanza

Even before his first album came out, Lokua Kanza's notoriety had spread well beyond the already wide circle of African music spheres. His soft, melancholy acoustic music has swept away the current clichés regarding ex-Zaire music, with its rumba and diabolical Soukouss rhythms. Lokua Kanza is a musician of multiple talents, a singer, composer or arranger as required. As for his undeniable artistic feeling, it has attracted artists from many different horizons, from Youssou N'Dour to Patrick Bruel. With Ismaël Lô, Baaba Maal or Geoffrey Oryema, he has brilliantly ensured the renewal of African music.

At the end of 1992, Lokua Kanza recorded his first album. Two years after, 5,000 copies of the album had sold. This young Zaire singer was a musical revelation. of the African folk scene at the time. Lokua Kanza was distinguished at the African Music Awards, receiving the prize for the Best African Album.

After a long tour, he went to Peter Gabriel's studios to work as a singer, musician, writer and composer, on Papa Wemba's and Geoffrey Oryema albums. Lokua Kanza had a hand in both arrangements and production. His arrangements were rewarded at the new edition of African Music Awards

This award marked a transition from Lokua's second album.
This record, the second chapter in a career which is both short and yet full of diverse experience, came out in October 95 under the name of "Wapi Yo".The first title, "Shadow Dancer", figured in innumerable hit parades throughout Europe. In February 96 it was France's turn to honour Lokua Kanza, with three nominations at the Victoires de la Musique

In 1997 and 98, Lokua Kanza spent most of his time on tour, commencing with the United States where he gave concerts early in the year. In April, the Brazilian Djavan invited him and Al Jarreau to the Festival of Todos os Sons (Festival of all sounds) in Curitiba, Brazil.
In 1999 Lokua returning to the studio to begin work on a new album entitled "Lokua Kanza 3". The arrangements on this new album were more 'orchestrated' than Lokua's usual sound, this album also featured contributions from a number of renowned American songwriters such as Lamont Dozier (of Motown fame) and Siedah Garrett (famous for the songs he has written for Michael Jackson).

After a few years shunning the spotlight, Lokua Kanza was again the centre of media attention in 2001 with a new, subtle album entitled 'Toyebi Te' , the CD features many folk ballads.

Back in the studio in early 2004 for Plus Vivant
Lokua has again cut the road between Europe and Africa and cosigned in 2005 on No Format,Toto Bona Lokua.

He’s next album NKolo is on progress (scheduled for April 2008) is a new journey into the depths of the African jungle without forgetting to make a detour through the warm and sparkling Kinshasa in order to carried away by a rumba so Lokua.LOKUA KANZA

BIOGRAPHIE

Rien de démonstratif chez Lokua Kanza. Aucune ostentation. Rien de brutal non plus. L'homme est pudique, d'apparence sereine, semble en apesanteur et d'humeur méditative. Il réserve ses mots, regarde, écoute, sourit, et d'un léger plissement de ses yeux noirs et pénétrants révèle une part conséquente de sa propre vérité : la puissante lumière intérieure qui l'habite et dont les rais transportent tout à trac bonheurs et souffrances, pleurs et rires, doutes et révélations, frayeurs et espérances, révoltes et respect, compassion et, plus que tout... amour. Avec un grand A.

Outre les guitares et mandolines, Lokua manie en expert la sanza, le piano, les claviers, la basse, les percussions, la flûte.
Auteur et compositeur, Lokua, écrit en quantité pour les uns et les autres et se bâtit peu à peu son propre répertoire. Il donne son premier grand concert parisien en 1992, à l'Olympia, en "vedette américaine" d'Angélique Kidjo.

Lokua Kanza, premier opus personnel, est enregistré fin 1992. Succès énorme. Début 1994, la presse se dit "fascinée", "sous le choc", "envoûtée", "hallucinée", "revigorée", le barde est devenu star et se voit décerner à Libreville (Gabon), le prix du « Meilleur album africain » aux Africar Music Awards.
Dans la foulée, il coproduit avec Stephen Hague dans les studios de Peter Gabriel, deux séances de ses amis Papa Wemba (« Emotion », pour lequel il reçoit le prix du « Meilleur arrangeur africain ») et Geoffrey Oryema.
Essai transformé en 1995 avec Wapi Yo, deuxième fabuleuse réussite.Un réservoir de hits, au premier rang desquels s’inscrivent Shadow dancer et Sallé, qui vaut à Lokua Kanza trois nominations aux 11èmes Victoires de la musique.
En 2003 paraît Toyébi Té, flamboyante aquarelle chantée sur le ton de la confidence et troisième grosse performance commerciale de Lokua Kanza. Avant de retourner en studio début 2004 pour Plus vivant, le chanteur a de nouveau taillé la route, entre Europe et Afrique et cosigné sur No Format, l’élégantissime Toto Bona Lokua.
Le prochain album NKolo et en préparation (prévu pour avril 200