Founded in the early 1969 by D.V. Moanda, Marcelin Delo, Henry Mongombe, Olemi Eshar-Eshar dem'belina and Andre Bita, Zaiko Langa Langa survived into the 2000s (decade), and have been largely popular through the decades. Because of their "rebel" and "hippie" attitude, and their innovative approach to soukous, they became a symbol of the new generations of post-independence Zaire, and are sometimes compared to the Rolling Stones for their appeal on the Congolese youth.
The band has experienced several personnel changes, and a number of prominent soukous musicians have been in their lineup; examples are Bozi Boziana, Dindo Yogo, Evoloko Jocker, N'Yoka Longo and Bimi Ombale. Several soukous band formed as spin-offs of Zaiko Langa Langa; these include Isifi Lokole, Yoka Lokole, Viva La Musica, Langa Langa Stars, Zaiko Familia Dei, Basilique Loningisa, Choc Stars, Anti Choc, and Zaiko Nkolo Mboka. This large group of related bands is sometimes referred to as "Clan Langa Langa" (i.e., "the Langa Langa family").
In 2000, Zaiko Langa Langa were awarded by the Congolese Media Association as the best Congolese musical group of the 20th century.
The band was formed in 1969 with the provisional name "Orchestra Zaiko". The original lineup was composed of Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo, Evoloko Lay Lay, Teddy Sukami, Oncle Bapius, Zamuangana le meilleur and Manuaku Waku (also known as Pépé Fely) and N'Yoka Longo. The band also had a pop section, which was playing before the soukous section, with Bimi Ombale, Mbuta Matima and Mashakado Mbuta. Moanda, Mongombe, Marcelin, Waku, Longo and Bita were all from a former band called Bel Guide National. They were mostly students coming from upper-class families of Kinshasa.
The sound of Zaiko Langa Langa was revolutionary with respect to the soukous tradition. They adopted a more up tempo beat, abandoned wind instruments and emphasized snare drums and lead electric guitars (and eventually also synthesizers). The percussion rhythms were adapted from traditional Congolese music and the sebene became more prominent. Their vocal lines made a large use of the call and response schemes. Their frenetic stage shows featured a frontline of four singers.
Because of these innovations, they are sometimes referred to as the founders of the "third school" of soukous. The "first school" is probably that of soukous bands of the 1950s, such as Grand Kalle et l'African Jazz and OK Jazz, while the "second school" could be that of Sam Mangwana's African Fiesta. While their "rebel" attitude, which resembled that of the hippie movement, earned them the sobriquet of "Zaire's Rolling Stones".
Zaiko quickly became one of the most popular groups of Zaire, and had a large fan base among Kinshasa's juvenile. In the 1970s, Zaiko's singers Evoloko "Lay Lay" Joker, Papa Wemba, Gina Efonge, Mavuela Somo, Nyoka Longo and Bimi Ombale popularized a dance known as cavacha, also spelled "kavasha, that was a decade-lasting craze in most East Africa.
In 1974, Zaiko Langa Langa were amongst the Zairean bands to be invited to play in Zaire '74, a huge musical event celebrating the Rumble in the Jungle.
In the mid 1970s the band lost some of its most important members. Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana, Mavuela Somo and Evoloko left in 1974 to create Isifi Lokole; the same year, Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana and Mavuela abandoned Evoloko after a conflict of leadership in the groupe between Evoloko and Papa Wemba to form Yoka Lokole in 1976. In 1980, guitarist Manuaka Waku also founded his own group, Grand Zaiko Wa Wa. After a brief period of inactivity, the band returned in 1975, and in the following years maintained a prominent position in the soukous scenes, while competing with its own spin-offs such as Isifi Melodia, Yoka Lokole and later on in 1977 Viva La Musica of Papa Wemba after he left Yoka Lokole after another conflict of leadership between him and Mavuela Somo. The outcome of the personnel changes in the band was the establishment of N'Yoka Longo as the new leader, and new entries such as Lengi Lenga, Bakunde Ilo Pablo and Likinga. Zaiko Langa Langa's production of the latter 1970s are particularly sophisticated both in terms of melody and orchestration, and the choreography of the live performance was also richer than it was in the early years. In 1975 too saw the establishment of the longest serving front singers of Zaiko in Nyoka Longo, Bimi Ombale, Lengi Lenga and Likinga Redo who will become for fourteen years the face of Zaiko and impose Zaiko as the ultimate heavy weight of youth music in Zaire. The success of the band was so huge and unprecedented in Zairian music history that all the presonnel that have left the band were queuing to return. In 1977, Bozi Boziana rejoined the group, followed by Mashakado Mbuta and Evoloko in 1980.
Despite new internal quarrels and personnel changes with the departure of Evoloko, Bozi and Djo Mali in 1981 to form Langa Langa Stars, Zaiko Langa Langa were successful throughout the 1980s. The band was touring Europe and Africa regularly and was the first Zairian band to visit Japan. At the end of the decade at the height of their glory and having establish themselves as legends in Zaire, the band experienced another major split, between the two leaders of the group Nyoka Longo and Bimi Ombale. The band was divided in two with every musician choosing his camp between the two leaders who were part of Zaiko since it creation. With Meridjo, Bapius, Matima, Zamuangana who were part of Zaiko from it creation staying with Nyoka Longo followed by Dindo Yogo and the band was called then Zaiko Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka, and was considered as the original Zaiko, to differentiate it from the band of Bimi Ombale which was called Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei and had Lengi Lenga, Ilo Pablo, JP Buse and the rest of the musicians that came in the 1980s. Later on, N'Yoka Longo's group reacquired the original name "Zaiko Langa Langa", which has maintained until today. N'Yoka Longo is still the leader of the group.
In 2002, Zaiko performed in the mythic arena Zenith of Paris, France. More than 6.000 fans attended. This was considered by many as the renaissance or rebirth of Zaiko. In fact, as earlier as 1988, Zaiko, being very popular at that time, made plan to perform in Zenith but the great split that occurred in the band stopped it for doing so.
Zaiko spent 6 and half years in Europe (2002–09). Its Headquarters ware based in Bruxelles, Belgium. But the band gave more concerts in France and other countries around Europe. During that time in Europe, Zaiko released three albums: Eureka (2002), Empreintes (2004), Recontres (2006). In the last album, Nyoka Longo invited many former Zaiko musicians like Malage, Beniko Popolipo; and a retired Congolese musician Tony Dee Bokito. He also recruited from Kinshasa, the son of late Dindo yogo, Lola Muana.
During the time the Band was in Europe, Nyoka Longo, in 2006, charged Lola Muana who was then in Kinshasa to form a group that would promote Zaiko music in D.R.Congo. Lola recruited and formed a subsidiary group of Zaiko called Les Ganers de Zaiko. Bapius Muaka, a longtime guitarist bass player who left the group during a minor split of 1999, joined the Ganers too.
The group returned in D.R.Congo in January 2009 with only five musicians: Nyoka Longo, Doudou Adoula, Shou Lay Evoloko, Gege Mangaya and Lola Muana. Other members of the group defected and stayed in Europe where they formed a new band named Les Stars de Zaiko under the leadership of Adamo Ekula. Couple years later, they renamed their new band Zaikas Kolo Mboka.
Since his recruitment in Zaiko, Lola Muana was regarded by many as the principal heir of Zaiko. But in 2009, he was forced to quit the group because of his proposal to have a valid work contract with the group. His request was denied by the President of Zaiko, N'Yoka Longo Mvula Jossart. The son of Evoloko, Shou Lay, who backed Lola's request left the group too. In November 2011, Lola Muana was reinstated in the group.
Zaiko Langa Langa were both influential in their own right and through their many spin-offs. Most of these maintained a strong link to the original formation, and this is often reflected by the names they adopted. The groups that somehow belong to the Zaiko Langa Langa "franchise" are collectively known as the "Clan Langa Langa". This includes:
Isifi Lokole - Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana, Evoloko Jocker, Mavuela Somo
Yoka Lokole - Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana, Mavuela Somo
Grand Zaïko Wa Wa (1975–?) - Manuaku Waku who was joined by successful singers like Shimita, Djo Poster among others
Viva La Musica (1977–?) - Papa Wemba, joined by Emeneya Mubiala, dindo yogo
Choc Stars - Bozi Boziana, Tshimpaka Roxy joined by Ben Nyamabo, Karlito Lassa, Defao
L'Orchestre Anti-Choc - Bozi Boziana, joined by Deyesse Mukangi, Jolie Detta, Dodoli, Walingonda, Fifi Mofude, etc.
Langa Langa Stars (1981–1984) - Evoloko Jocker, Bozi Boziana, Tshimpaka Roxy and Djo Mali
TPOK Jazz (1984–1983) - François Luambo Makiadi
Zaïko Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka - N'Yoka Longo, Meridjo, Dindo Yogo, Oncle Bapius, Zamuangana, Nono Atalaku and Matima. They were joined by Malage de Lugendo, Adamo, Baroza, Shiro Shiro,
Zaïko Langa Langa Familia Dei - Lengi Lenga, Ilo Pablo, Bimi Ombale, Beniko Popolipo, Petit Poisson, Djimi Yaba
Zaiko Universel (1999–2000)- Meridjo, Bapius Muaka
Langa Langa Rénové - Evoloko Jocker
Basilique Loningisa - Bimi Ombale
Ngwaka Aye- Dindo Yogo
Les Quatros de Langa Langa, Papa Wemba, Evoloko, Bozi Boziana, Gina Efonge
Les Stars de Zaiko, Now called Zaikas Kolo Mboka, Adamo Ekula, Petit Poisson, Tshanda, Papy Cocaine, etc.
Clan Petrole (1983–1940) - The Best Collections.
Discography
* 1970 : Pauline
* 1972 : L'amoureux decu
* 1973 : Mete la vérité, chouchouna
* 1974 : Liwa ya somo
* 1981 : Sarah Djenni
* 1983 : La Tout Neige
* 1985 : Zaiko Eyi Nkisi
* 1985 : Eh Ngoss! Eh Ngoss! Eh Ngoss!
* 1986 : Bongoville
* 1986 : Pusa Kuna... Serrez! Serrez!
* 1987 : Bongama Kamata Position
* 1987 : Subissez les conséquences
* 1988 : Nippon Banzai au Japon
* 1989 : Jetez l'Eponge
* 1990 : Zaiko Langa-Langa F. D.
* 1992 : L'Autentique Zaiko Langa Langa
* 1993 : Jamais sans nous
* 1993 : Zaire-Ghana (recorded in Accra in 1976, produced by Henri Bowane)
* 1995 : Avis de recherche
* 1995 : Zekete Zekete
* 1996 : Sans issue
* 1996 : Pacha labaran
* 1997 : Papa Omar
* 1997 : Onassis
* 1997 : Muvaro
* 1997 : Le beau temps
* 1997 : Bongo bouger
* 1997 : Bacline Lesson One
* 1997 : Poison
* 2000 : Etumba ya la vie
* 2001 : Legend
* 2002 : Anthologie
* 2003 : Sentiment Awa / Essesse
* 2003 : Eureka!
* 2004 : Empreinte
* Zaire Congo Dance
* Zaiko Langa Langa
* Saisie en Douane... 20 Ans Déjà
* Ici Ça Va... Fungola Motema
* Out of Africa
Eka Lowisa
Zaïko Langa Langa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Na kamwe décisions motema ezui na tongo
Olambelaka Loso na pondu
Na boyi mindondo ya pakasa na supu ya mosaka.
Yebisa Tekele alinga ko tambola
Aluka eleko yako tala yoeee
Atika'o kimya mokolo mobimba Lelo
Na kuta yo na ndaku yo moko Eka
Oko lobela nga motindo bakolisi yo
Na koya lokola mobali ayakaee
Ko senga loboko ya mwasi pona Makwela
Toko kende kobina zaiko langa langa
Soki nzoto eza maladie soki olembi te
Toko sukisa ambiance na restaurant Le Kalanga
Toko zonga ndaku na mwa kopo na moto
Liboso ya kolala toyoki Los Dikelos
Misiki eteemisaka Eka suki ya moto
Mélodie akola na yango uta bomwana
Tango ya bolingo esi ekoki Ekaee,
Ebimisi, emonisi elembeteloeee
Misisa ya nzoto etelemeli nga Ekaee
Lokola bokono ebengani nga pongieee
Na bwaki mosolo likolo Eka na nga'eee
Pile face ekwe cote'elongi na yo'eee
Na luki na zua défaut na nzoto ya Eka'eee
Na bandi makolo, na mati moto akuna
Mwana ngo ekebeleke Eka nzete mobesu
Asepelisaka nga surtout côté loleso
Na luki mosolo ya libala na zuwi'eee
Na landeli bolingo epa na yo Eka'eeeee
SEBEN... {Place à la dance}
The lyrics of Zaïko Langa Langa's song Eka Lowisa tell a story about a man named Eka who is facing a dilemma. He is struggling to make a decision between his heart and his mind. He is trying to figure out what he wants in life and what will make him happy. He is torn between his past and his future, between his wild past and his present life. He is trying to make sense of his emotions, and he is trying to find a way to express his feelings.
The song is a mix of Lingala and French lyrics, and it is a perfect example of the Congolese rumba style of music. The music is upbeat and lively, and it features a seben, a part of the song where the music reaches its climax, and the dancers are given the chance to show off their dance moves.
Overall, the lyrics of Eka Lowisa convey a deep sense of longing and uncertainty, which makes it relatable to many people who are also facing difficult decisions in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Eka nakoya kolala epa na honte
I'm lying sleepless on this bed
Na kamwe décisions motema ezui na tongo
My heart is divided into two, finding it hard to make a decision
Olambelaka Loso na pondu
The stars are shining brightly in the sky
Na boyi mindondo ya pakasa na supu ya mosaka.
I remember the beautiful memories we had in the past
Yebisa Tekele alinga ko tambola
Tell Tekele to come and dance
Aluka eleko yako tala yoeee
He is looking sharp and charming
Atika'o kimya mokolo mobimba Lelo
He kept quiet the whole day yesterday
Na kuta yo na ndaku yo moko Eka
I miss you and your house Eka
Oko yebisa nga vie na yo mobimba
He is telling me that he loves me so much
Oko lobela nga motindo bakolisi yo
He promised to change his bad behavior
Na koya lokola mobali ayakaee
I'm feeling shy like a newlywed wife
Ko senga loboko ya mwasi pona Makwela
Hold the hand of the lady from Makwela
Toko kende kobina zaiko langa langa
Let's dance to Zaiko Langa Langa's music
Soki nzoto eza maladie soki olembi te
If the heart is sick and you don't tell anyone
Toko sukisa ambiance na restaurant Le Kalanga
Let's enjoy the atmosphere at Le Kalanga restaurant
Toko zonga ndaku na mwa kopo na moto
Let's go back home by taxi
Liboso ya kolala toyoki Los Dikelos
The sound of sleep is louder than Los Dikelos music
Misiki eteemisaka Eka suki ya moto
The music is slow, matching the heat of the night
Melodie akola na yango uta bomwana
The melody is sweet like the nectar of honey
Tango ya bolingo esi ekoki Ekaee,
This is the time for our love to blossom, Eka
Ebimisi, emonisi elembeteloeee
The dance steps are so exciting and captivating
Misisa ya nzoto etelemeli nga Ekaee
The beat of the music is touching my heart, Eka
Lokola bokono ebengani nga pongieee
Like a bird in a cage, I feel trapped and helpless
Na bwaki mosolo likolo Eka na nga'eee
My heart beats faster for you, Eka
Pile face ekwe cote'elongi na yo'eee
When I see your face, a smile appears
Na luki na zua défaut na nzoto ya Eka'eee
I examine and find faults in my love for you, Eka
Na bandi makolo, na mati moto akuna
With folded arms, I watch the fire burning
Mwana ngo ekebeleke Eka nzete mobesu
My child dreams of becoming a hero like Mobesu
Asepelisaka nga surtout côté loleso
He is trying to win the heart of Loleso
Na luki mosolo ya libala na zuwi'eee
I look at the past without remorse
Na landeli bolingo epa na yo Eka'eeeee
I surrender my love to you, Eka
Contributed by Eva A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jeyjeybusiness6029
Très belle chanson
@honeyakpongboewogu4179
Chef d'oeuvres !
@claudemassata5663
des belles chansons de zaiko , vraiment c'est géniale
@emmanuelvuanga3018
Avec les chanson de zaiko je suis bien soulagée
@yohaliekabibi5712
🤩🤩🤩
@gregoiremulenda4473
Mélodie ya Zaiko tokola na yango uta bomuana ....!
@ndalesaiba9555
Lobi, Lelo ti libela, zaiko, mikolo, bilenge na ba oyo ya lobi bazo ko sepela na maloba ya eyembani pona Eka Lowisa (Louise). Buzoba te, bi yemba yemba té. Matondo
@bedelkanvadioko5325
Super letal cette chanson..
@fistoncodos8267
Tango ya bolingo esi ekoki
@claudenzeza1562
belle melodie ya. jossart et vieux tony