Congolese rumba

Congolese rumba, also known as African rumba, is a dance music genre originating from the Republic of the Congo (formerly French Congo) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). With its rhythms, melodies, and lyrics, Congolese rumba has gained global recognition and remains an integral part of African music heritage. In December 2021, it was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

Emerging in the mid-20th century in the urban centers of Brazzaville and Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) during the colonial era, the genre's roots can be delineated to the Bakongo partner dance music known as Maringa, which was traditionally practiced within the erstwhile Kingdom of Loango, encompassing regions of contemporary Republic of the Congo, Southern Gabon, and Cabinda Province of Angola. The style gained prominence in the 1920s-1940s, introducing the advent of the "bar-dancing" culture in Brazzaville and Léopoldville, incorporating distinctive elements such as a bass drum, a bottle employed as a triangle, and an accordion known as likembe. During the mid-1940s and 1950s, the influence of Cuban son bands transformed Maringa into "Congolese rumba", as imported records by Sexteto Habanero, Trio Matamoros, and Los Guaracheros de Oriente were frequently misattributed as "rumba". Subsequently the genre became known as Congolese rumba. The 1960s and 1970s saw the emergence of soukous, an urban dance music style that emanated from Congolese rumba, imbuing it lively rhythms, intricate high-pitched guitar melodies, and large brass and polyrhythmic percussion sections.

Congolese rumba is characterized by its distinct sébène guitar playing style, which employs arpeggios, rapid chord changes, and melodic embellishments. Notably, the style frequently employs the "mi-solo" guitar style, pioneered by influential figures such as Franco Luambo, wherein rhythm and lead parts alternates within a single musical phrase, furnishing a complementary counter-melody that supports or responds to the soloist with a warmer sound and fewer effects. Groovy basslines, catchy rhythms based on ostinato or looping phrases, and danceable beats are also typical quintessential elements of the genre.

The style has gained widespread popularity in Africa, reaching countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana, South Sudan, Senegal, Burundi, Malawi, and Namibia. Additionally, it has found a following in Europe, particularly in France, Belgium, Germany, and the UK, as well as the US, as a result of touring by Congolese musicians, who have performed at various festivals internationally. Musicians such as Henri Bowane, Wendo Kolosoy, Franco Luambo Makiadi, Le Grand Kallé, Nico Kasanda, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Sam Mangwana, Papa Noel Nedule, Vicky Longomba, and Papa Wemba have made significant contributions to the genre, pushing its boundaries and incorporating modern musical elements.