Ndombolo | |
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Stylistic origins | Soukous |
Cultural origins | 1990s |
Typical instruments | Guitar, horn, and drum |
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Kenya, Rwanda, Madagascar, Tanzania, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Nigeria, Angola, Togo, Niger, Central African Republic, Gabon | |
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Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | ||||
General topics | ||||
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Media and performance | ||||
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Nationalistic and patriotic songs | ||||
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Regional music | ||||
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Ndombolo, also known as dombolo, is a genre of dance music originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1][2][3][4] Derived from soukous in the 1990s, with fast-paced hip-swaying dance rhythms, often accompanied by upbeat, percussion-driven music, the style became widespread in the mid-1990s and the subsequent decade, dominating dancefloors in central, eastern, and western Africa. It inspired West African popular music, coupé-décalé, Kuduro, and East African dance music.[1][4][5][6][7]
Ndombolo customarily features lead vocalists, backup vocalists, guitars, horns, drums, and synthesized sounds.[8] The lyrics often explore themes of human relations, marriage, courtship, trickery, disappointment, and Congolese sociopolitical culture.[9][10][11] Prominent musicians such as Papa Wemba, Dany Engobo, Koffi Olomide, Werrason, Awilo Longomba, Quartier Latin International, Général Defao, Aurlus Mabélé, Extra Musica, Wenge Musica, and Wenge Musica Maison Mère played a pivotal role in popularizing the genre.[11][12][13][14][15]
Etymology
Etymologically, "ndombolo" derives from Kikongo, meaning "to ask or solicit".[16] The lexicologist Arizona M. Baongoli, specializing in Lingala, expounds that "ndombolo" encapsulates a genre of Congolese dance, literally meaning "gorilla" or "chimpanzee".[16] The dance choreography involves hip gyrations, showcasing the posterior while executing forward and backward movements. Baongoli posits that this stylized dance mimics gorillas' and chimpanzees' gait, dance, or movements during courtship rituals.[16] The Parisian writer Milau K. Lutumba elucidates that this metaphorical construct emerged as a collective expression of the Congolese populace's hope for an end to the brutality, terror, injustice, and misery perpetuated during the reign of president Mobutu Sese Seko.[17] The genesis of the term coincided with Mobutu's ouster from power by the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo, led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila.[17] In the aftermath of Mobutu's exile in May 1997, musicians immortalized Kabila as the embodiment of "ndombolo". Lutumba notes that this symbolic renaming marked a turning point in the country's history, signifying a desire for positive change and a departure from the oppressive era.[17] The term took on additional layers of meaning when president Kabila, seen for the first time on television in 1996, was immediately identified as a ndombolo—a dwarf, a characterization stemming from the extensive time he spent in the bush as a guerrilla fighter, highlighting his pliability, elasticity, and strategic intelligence, reminiscent of the smart monkeys often depicted in African tales.[17] In African folklore, the monkey character is portrayed as an intelligent figure who, through wit and cunning, prevails over larger, stronger animals such as lions and leopards.[17]
Form
Ndombolo's dance style is characterized by convulsive and fast-paced hip movements with intricate steps, combining floating arm movements, whirling body rotations, and ape-like poses.[18][19] Men typically bend low and box in the air while women undulate their hips and bottoms with plenty of facial expressions.[18][20][21] The hip-swaying is often accompanied by synchronized footwork and precise leg movements while maintaining a relatively stationary upper body. Ndombolo is usually danced in pairs or groups. Dancers form close connections with their partners and engage in coquettish movements that reflect the connection present in the accompanying music.[18][22][20]
Meanwhile, the musical elements unfold in a frenetic sebène, a cyclic repetition of a certain number of notes during the passage of two chords, with an emphasis on the rhythm guitar.[19][23] This repetitive soundscape gains momentum as the tempo intensifies, with the guitarist incorporating gimmicks and caesuras to craft a distinctive sound.[24] The role of the guitarist is shared with an atalaku, a singer who, from the music's outset, directs the percussion, galvanizes the audience, and augments assertive rhythms through impassioned MC harangue.[24][19] The hypnotic sway of atalaku persists through powerful jolts of guitar and drums, emerging as the central pivot around which the rhythm revolves.[24]
History
Origins and foreign label takeover
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Franco Luambo, Tabu Ley Rochereau, and Zaïko Langa Langa revolutionized soukous by removing the horn section and wind instruments and elevating the snare drum and electric guitars.[25][26][20] Nelson George notes that this transformation resulted in a high-octane auditory quality that produced hits and dance crazes that gained popularity across Africa and major European cities, launching the careers of many homegrown artists, most notably world music singer Papa Wemba.[20] However, the fiscal insolvency that befell Congolese record labels such as Parions-Congo, Parions Mondenge, International Don-Dass, and Molende Kwi Kwi following the collapse of the Mazadis, Sophinza S.P.R.L., and Izason recording labels, coupled with the transition from vinyl to compact discs, led to national phonographic production sinking into lethargy during the 1980s.[27] Foreign labels specializing in African and Caribbean music took over, starting with Sonodisc and Sonima (France). However, this also gave the Democratic Republic of the Congo a substantive platform for the proliferation and cultivation of homegrown artists.[27]
Formation and paternity debate
By the end of the 1990s, musicians such as Radja Kula, Wenge Musica, Koffi Olomide, and Général Defao joined Sonodisc, orchestrating a paradigm shift that transformed soukous into raunchy, fast-paced dance music, renaming it ndombolo.[20][28]
The genre's paternity is a subject of contentious debate, with some attributing it to Radja Kula in 1995,[29][30] and others crediting Wenge Musica.[31][32] Researcher Manda Tchebwa posits that Wenge Musica's generation was instrumental in shaping the style.[19][33]
The BBC has also credited the band, acknowledging them as the pioneers of the style, with their rapid hip movements and body swaying, occasionally accompanied by abrupt gestures.[34]
Heyday of ndombolo
Ndombolo quickly established itself as a popular African dance style across Africa and into the continent's diaspora in Belgium, France, the UK, Germany, Canada, and United States.[20][28][35] In May 1997, JB Mpiana's ndombolo-infused debut album, Feux de l'amour, became the first ndombolo album to attain a gold record, with over 150,000 copies sold. This success reverberated in Central Africa, East Africa, France, and Belgium, which in turn augmented ndombolo's visibility in francophone and anglophone countries.[36][37] Koffi Olomide's ndombolo album Loi, released in December 1997, also secured a gold record, with 25,000 copies sold in France and 105,000 internationally.[38][39] The album's eponymous single became synonymous with ndombolo dance, making waves across Africa and France with a combination of the singer's deep baritone voice and sophisticated arrangements, blending old-school rumba and keyboard melodies and ending in a guitar climax.[40][41][42]
On 29 August 1998, Olomide became the first Congolese artist to sell out the Olympia Hall in Paris.[43] The concert, featuring ndombolo-infused tracks, is widely acknowledged as crucial in popularizing the genre.[43][44] In December 1998, the Extra Musica ensemble from the Republic of the Congo released their fourth studio album, Etat-Major, marking the first ndombolo record to attain broad success in English-speaking African countries. The album's eponymous single is characterized by multi-thematic lyrics, catchy melodies, and distortion pedal guitar riffs.[45][46] In 1999, Wenge Musica Maison Mère released their ndombolo-infused certified gold album, Solola Bien, which experienced immediate success in Africa and France.[47] The album's eponymous single, along with Ferré Gola's "Vita Imana", gained popularity in France, and the band was invited to perform at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris.[48][49][50]
Censorship and resurgence
Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rise to power in Congo prompted speculation and misinformation, with rumors of impending bans on miniskirts, women's pants, and love song on airwaves, as well as the closure of nightclubs.[51][52] In 1998, Libération reported a perceptible decrease in the number of soukous orchestras in Kinshasa, along with strict regulation of public spaces.[51] Only a few nightclubs, including le Circus, le Seguin, le Gin Fizz, l'Imprévu, l'Atmosphère, le Savanana, and le M16 remained accessible for public revelry.[51]
By the early 2000s, numerous African television stations banned ndombolo due to its perceived "pornographic" nature, alleging that it compromised youth morality. In Cameroon, ndombolo faced prohibition for being deemed excessively erotic and obscene. Critics contended that Cameroon's imposition emanated from the belief that ndombolo encroached upon local music genres like makossa and bikutsi.[53][54] By January 2004, the ban extended to Congolese state-operated radio and television outlets.[54][55] In Senegal, certain hosts of Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise faced censure as a consequence of their association with ndombolo.[55] Paradoxically, despite prohibitions, record sales surged, and new releases continued to dominate discos, bars, and clubs across Africa, with its trademark bass, tingling guitars, and soaring falsettos. In Europe, the sound became synonymous with African music, catapulting artists like Papa Wemba into high demand.[56][57]
Olomide released his album Monde Arabe in December 2004, gaining traction for blending ndombolo and Congolese rumba, accentuated by acoustic guitar interludes.[58] Meanwhile, Fally Ipupa's "Original" became a hit in 2014, reigniting interest in the genre after prominent ndombolo artists migrated to Europe.[59][60][61][62][63][64] This was accompanied by Olomide's subsequent releases, including "Selfie" (2015)[65][66] and "Tshou Tshou Tshou" (2017).[67]
In June 2018, BM released a remix of his single "Rosalina", featuring Awilo Longomba, which gave rise to the "#RosalinaChallenge" trend on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This trend features exhilarating ndombolo motions synchronized with pulsating Congolese rhythms, encapsulating the precise articulation of the entire physical form, from limbs to waist.[68][69][70][71][72] "Ecole", from Fally's November 2018 album, Control, introduced a new dance known as the "Ecole dance", synonymous with ndombolo dance moves, embraced by numerous dancers on social networks.[73][74][75][76]
Emerging ndombolo artists like Innoss'B, Robinio Mundibu, Gaz Mawete, and the Paris-based Ya Levis Dalwear surfaced. In September 2019, Inoss'B released a remix of his song "Yope", featuring Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz, which became one of the most-viewed ndombolo songs on Youtube as well as the first song in East and Central Africa to surpass 150 Million views.[77][78] In November 2020, Diamond Platnumz released a successful crossover ndombolo-infused Swahili song, "Waah", featuring Olomide. "Waah" became the first Sub-Saharan African song to reach two million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours.[79][80][81] In June 2021, Tanzanian singer Ali Kiba released his single "Ndombolo", featuring K2ga, Tommy Flavour, and Abdu Kiba, which was later included as a sample song for the ndombolo music genre on the Grammy Awards website.[82]
Influence
French rap
Ndombolo has strongly impacted French hip hop from the Congolese diaspora.[40] The group Bisso Na Bisso pioneered the infusion of Congolese guitar patterns and rhythms into French rap in late 1990's.[83]
French rapper Naza pioneered the infusion of ndombolo rhythms into French rap. In September 2017, he released his Platinum-certified album Incroyable, predominantly blending ndombolo rhythms. Adorned with lead guitar tributes to musical collectives like Wenge Musica, Extra Musica, Quartier Latin, and Viva La Musica, the record emerged as a defining ndombolo-rap fusion in France.[84][85][86] On the single "Moi je vérifie", featuring Dadju and Aya Nakamura, Naza introduced a singing style synchronized with the rhythm of a dry guitar.[84] This success paved the way for subsequent hits like Dadju's "Mafuzzy Style" (2018), Belgian rapper Damso's "Même issue", and Maître Gims with "Na Lingui Yo"[40][87][88][89]
References
- 1 2 Tchakam, Stéphane (2 December 2003). "Cameroun : L'autre danse congolaise". Cameroon Tribune (in French). Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ↑ White, Bob W. (1999). "Modernity's Trickster: "Dipping" and "Throwing" in Congolese Popular Dance Music". Research in African Literatures. 30 (4): 156–175. ISSN 0034-5210. JSTOR 3820759.
- ↑ Knights, Vanessa (29 April 2016). Music, National Identity and the Politics of Location: Between the Global and the Local. Thames, Oxfordshire United Kingdom: Routledge. p. 208. ISBN 978-1-317-09160-8.
- 1 2 Otiso, Kefa M. (24 January 2013). Culture and Customs of Tanzania. New York City, New York State, United States: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 979-8-216-06991-1.
- ↑ Sobania, Neal W. (30 June 2003). Culture and Customs of Kenya. Santa Barbara, California, United States: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 207–208. ISBN 978-0-313-03936-2.
- ↑ AfroConex (9 March 2023). "Spreading Ndombolo Dance Across Africa with Bush Sebar". AfroConex. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ↑ Kabwe, Jason (15 March 2013). "Ndombolo Craze". Czech Radio (in Czech). Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ↑ Falola, Toyin; Jean-Jacques, Daniel (14 December 2015). Africa [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society [3 volumes]. Santa Barbara, California, United States: ABC-CLIO. p. 627. ISBN 978-1-59884-666-9.
- ↑ Education, Pan African Society for Musical Arts (2005). Emerging Solutions for Musical Arts Education in Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: African Minds. pp. 333–334. ISBN 978-1-920051-11-2.
- ↑ Kuoni, Carin; Haines, Chelsea (22 January 2016). Entry Points: The Vera List Center Field Guide on Art and Social Justice No. 1. Durham, North Carolina, United States: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-7395-7.
- 1 2 Anheier, Helmut K.; Isar, Yudhishthir Raj (31 March 2012). Cultures and Globalization: Cities, Cultural Policy and Governance. Thousand Oaks, California, United States: SAGE. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-4462-9172-6.
- ↑ Heidenreich-Seleme, Lien; O'Toole, Sean (2012). Über(w)unden: Art in Troubled Times. Johannesburg, South Africa: Jacana Media. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-4314-0497-1.
- ↑ Falola, Toyin; Jean-Jacques, Daniel (14 December 2015). Africa [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society [3 volumes]. London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 979-8-216-04273-0.
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- 1 2 3 Manzekele, Roger (3 November 2018). "L'Origine de Ndombolo : Lorsque le nom "Ndombolo" est évoqué, beaucoup pensent directement au style musical inspiré de la Rumba et du Soukous congolais". Kongolisolo.co (in French). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Lutumba, Milau K. (2001). "Atalaku, the People's Eye and Memory From "Ndombolo" to "Plein na Plein": a critique of President L. D. Kabila's regime in popular music". Présence Africaine (163/164): 69–79. ISSN 0032-7638. JSTOR 24352157.
- 1 2 3 Sörgel, Sabine (30 March 2020). Contemporary African Dance Theatre: Phenomenology, Whiteness, and the Gaze. Springer Nature. p. 55. ISBN 978-3-030-41501-3.
- 1 2 3 4 Tchebwa, Manda (30 November 2002). "N'Dombolo: the identity-based postulation of the post-Zaïko generation" [N'Dombolo: the identity-based postulation of the post-Zaïko generation]. Africultures (in French). Paris, France. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 George, Nelson; Carr, Daphne (20 October 2008). Best Music Writing 2008. New York City, New York State, United States: Hachette Books. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7867-2612-7.
- ↑ Epalanga, Kalaf (13 June 2023). Whites Can Dance Too. London, United Kingdom: Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-37145-7.
- ↑ Elbadawi, Soeuf (11 April 2003). "RFI Musique – Ndombola fever". www1.rfi.fr. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
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- ↑ Koskoff, Ellen (2008). The Concise Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: Africa ; South America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean; The United States and Canada; Europe; Oceania. Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK: Routledge. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-415-99403-3.
- ↑ African, New (15 August 2018). "The mixed legacy of DRC musician Franco". New African Magazine. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
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- 1 2 Buettner, Elizabeth (24 March 2016). Europe after Empire: Decolonization, Society, and Culture. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 313. ISBN 978-1-316-59470-4.
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- ↑ Otieno, Charles. "The return of Wenge Musica". Evewoman Magazine. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ↑ "25-Year Wenge Musica Face-Off Appears to End". Afropop Worldwide. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ↑ "Antoine Manda Tchebwa : "La musique a été le déclic qui m'a poussé à me tourner vers l'écriture"" [Antoine Manda Tchebwa: "Music was the trigger that pushed me to turn to writing"]. Radio Okapi (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ↑ Makumeno, Emery (1 July 2022). "Musique : qu'est-ce que le clan Wenge, pionnier de la danse Ndombolo ?" [What is the Wenge clan, pioneers of Ndombolo dance?]. BBC News Afrique (in French). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ↑ Makumeno, Emery (1 July 2022). "Musique : qu'est-ce que le clan Wenge, pionnier de la danse Ndombolo ?". BBC News Afrique (in French). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ↑ "Personnes | Africultures : Mpiana J.B." Africultures (in French). Paris, France. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
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{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Kribios-Kauta, Adjuvant (16 April 2022). "13 albums paraphés par des trophées majeurs et des concerts historiques : la décennie 90 de Koffi Olomidé". Kribios Universal (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
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- ↑ Matanda, Alvin (21 June 2023). "RDC : 10 chansons de Ferre Gola à écouter avant son concert au stade des Martyrs". Music In Africa (in French). Retrieved 11 January 2024.
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- ↑ "Anger at Cameroon dance ban; BBC News Archived 2009-06-01 at the Wayback Machine", BBC News, 25 July 2000
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- 1 2 Nzale, Félix (3 February 2004). "Sénégal: Ndombolo, mapuka : ces danses jugées indésirables" [Senegal: Ndombolo, mapuka: these dances considered undesirable]. Sudquotidien.sn (in French). Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Woods, Sarah (6 July 2017). The 50 Greatest Musical Places. North Road, London, United Kingdom: Icon Books. ISBN 978-1-78578-190-2.
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- ↑ Mutara, Eugene. "Rwanda: Memories Through Congolese Music". AllAfrica. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ↑ Mesnager, Paul (2 November 2015). "Vidéo : Didier Drogba et l'Impact de Montréal en mode "Selfie" de Koffi Olomidé – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 19 August 2023.
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- ↑ "Decouvrez "Tshoutshoutshou", le nouveau clip de Koffi Olomide" [Discover "Tshoutshoutshou", the new music video by Koffi Olomide]. Mbote (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ "BM Feat Awilo Longamba – Rosalina (Remix) | GetMziki". 4 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ↑ Tabalia, Jedidah (12 November 2019). "South African dance moves that have made it internationally". Briefly. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ↑ BM shows us how to do Rosalina Challenge – BBC What's New?, retrieved 15 September 2023
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- ↑ "BM". Music in African. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ↑ Guizz (26 July 2018). "Fally Ipupa fait un retour tout en attitude avec "Ecole"". Booska-p.com (in French). Retrieved 10 November 2023.
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- ↑ Sissoko, Ayse (24 July 2018). "RDC – Musiques : Fally Ipupa retourne à l'école du n'dombolo" [DRC – Music: Fally Ipupa returns to the n’dombolo school]. JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ↑ Mbote, Redaction (7 January 2021). "Fally Ipupa en visite dans une école en Côte d'Ivoire". Mbote (in French). Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ↑ Milimo, Dennis (29 April 2021). "Diamond & Innoss'B's Yope Remix becomes first song in East Africa to hit 150 Million Views". Pulselive Kenya. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
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- ↑ "Diamond break YouTube record after releasing new music video". 1 December 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ "Diamond Platnumz's Waah hits 100 million on YouTube". The Citizen. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Kamau, Richard (22 April 2021). "Revealed: How Much Diamond Earned From 'Waah' Hit on YouTube". Nairobi Wire. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Maganga, Charles (29 July 2022). "Ali Kiba's Ndombolo Lands on the Grammy's List | Notjustok East Africa". Latest East African & Bongo Flava Music, Songs & Video – Notjustok. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Sauphie, Eva (10 June 2022). "Passi : "Les artistes afro-urbains doivent beaucoup au Bisso Na Bisso"". JeuneAfrique.com (in French).
- 1 2 Mutombo, Onassis (29 November 2017). "Naza, le (ré)inventeur du "ndombolo" !". Arts.cd (in French). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ↑ ToniS (31 August 2017). "Naza : le phénomène Creillois sur lequel il faut miser". Booska-p.com (in French). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ↑ "Les certifications". SNEP (in French). Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ↑ B., Chris (23 January 2021). "Du Congo à la pop internationale, le lingala fait rayonner la culture". La ZEP (in French). Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Sar, Yerim (9 May 2018). "Le Congo dans le rap français [DOSSIER]". Booska-p.com (in French). Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ↑ Glodi, Besanzami Ngono (11 June 2023). "Mbote ! Le lingala à la conquête du monde (Tribune)". Actualite.cd (in French). Retrieved 10 November 2023.