[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1616934850306{padding-top: 75px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_id=”Alt Home”][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1616921983654{padding-bottom: 40px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1616919858455{padding-right: 60px !important;padding-left: 60px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939969120{border-right-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;}”]
“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
Simaro Lutumba – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
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“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
Simaro Lutumba – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
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“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
SIMARO LUTUMBA – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
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[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1616921899503{padding-right: 80px !important;padding-left: 80px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1164″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1164″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1164″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1164″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1164″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1616921929437{padding-right: 80px !important;padding-left: 80px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1158″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1158″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1158″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1158″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”1158″ alignment=”center”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1616934859824{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;}” el_id=”trailer”][vc_column][blanco_section_heading style=”style-2″ align=”center” css_animation=”” large_heading=”TRAILER”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInLeft” css=”.vc_custom_1616929349343{padding-right: 140px !important;padding-left: 140px !important;}”]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”737″ row_color_scheme=”dark-scheme” css=”.vc_custom_1520653249085{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_inner_container=”true”][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1520691235654{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”][blanco_quotes_carousel auto_rotate=”4000″ align=”center” css_animation=”animate_css animated fadeIn”][blanco_quote cite=”Simaro Lutumba | Congolese Musician”]We have diamonds, coltan, and all of that, but music is also our wealth.[/blanco_quote][blanco_quote cite=”Pepe Manuaku | Congolese Musician”]Congolese music had the chance to colonize Sub-Saharan Africa over decades.[/blanco_quote][blanco_quote cite=”Jean Pierre Nimy| Congolese Historian”]A country that doesn’t dance, is an atrophied country.[/blanco_quote][/blanco_quotes_carousel][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616928943362{padding-top: 45px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_id=”about”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1616922701278{padding-right: 200px !important;padding-left: 200px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-2″ align=”center” css_animation=”” large_heading=”SYNOPSIS”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939835223{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]
The Rumba Kings celebrates the epic quest of The Democratic Republic of The Congo, an African nation that fought colonial oppression, found freedom, and forged a new identity through music. In the 1950s, when the Democratic Republic of the Congo was a Belgian colony, a generation of Congolese musicians fused traditional African rhythms with Afro-Cuban music to create the electrifying beat of Congolese rumba. A beat that would carry Congo through its independence and conquer the entire African continent with its infectious groove, captivating guitar licks, and smooth vocals.
[/vc_column_text][blanco_section_heading style=”style-2″ align=”center” css_animation=”” large_heading=”THE MUSICIANS”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616928975367{margin-top: -60px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1616926983521{margin-left: 70px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Brazzos”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928417701{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616938967838{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 75px !important;}”]
Antoine Mwango Armando (1934-2019), alias Brazzos, was a Congolese rumba rhythm guitar player and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Brazzos was a member of some of the most popular Congolese rumba orchestras of the 1950s-60s such as OK Jazz, African Jazz and Nègro Succèss.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”GUVANO”][vc_single_image image=”1209″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928454461{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616938977547{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 85px !important;}”]
Jean-Paul Vangu Diakanua is a Congolese rumba guitar player and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Guvano Brazzos was a member of some of the most popular Congolese rumba orchestras of the 1950s-60s such as African Fiesta National, Festival de Maquisards and Festival de Sam et Guvano.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1616926923572{margin-left: -70px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Kuka Mathieu”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928463564{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616938997512{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 75px !important;}”]Nkuka Mathieu Mwana Bitala (1931-2017) was a vocalist and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kuka Mathieu was a member of some of the most popular Congolese rumba orchestras such as Vox African and Grand Kallé’s orchestra African Jazz.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616928983134{margin-top: -60px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1616926983521{margin-left: 70px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Manu Dibango”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928476041{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939685604{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 75px !important;}”]
Emmanuel N’Djoké Manu Dibango (1933 – 2020) was a Cameroonian musician and songwriter who played saxophone and vibraphone. Manu Dibango is best known for his song “Soul Makossa”, that became an international hit reaching the top 35 in the Billboard ranks in 1973, and that was later adapted and used by Michael Jackson and Rihanna in their own recordings.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Papa Wemba”][vc_single_image image=”1209″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928482596{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939696698{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 85px !important;}”]
Jules Shungu Wembadio (1949-2016) was a singer and musician from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who played Congolese rumba, soukous and ndombolo. Papa Wemba’s music path started in 1969, when he joined the music band Zaiko Langa Langa. Papa Wemba was one of the most popular musicians of his time in Africa and played an important role in the world music scene.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1616926923572{margin-left: -70px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Manuaku”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928489289{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939706893{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 75px !important;}”]
Pepe Félix Manuaku Waku is a Congolese Rumba guitarist and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His style of guitar playing is considered as the third style of Congolese rumba guitar, after the guitar styles of Dr. Nico (Fiesta) and Franco Luambo (Odemba). Manuaku was the main guitar player of Zaiko Langa Langa, an early band of Congolese rumba megastar Papa Wemba.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616928990984{margin-top: -60px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1616926983521{margin-left: 70px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Petit Pierre”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928496044{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939718784{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 75px !important;}”]Pierre Yantula Elengesa from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the main percussionist of the African Jazz orchestra from 1960 until 1963. In 1960, at a very young age, Petit Pierre traveled with the African Jazz to Brussels to perform for the Congolese politicians who were negotiating Congo’s independence from Belgium. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Roitelet”][vc_single_image image=”1209″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928508274{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939732612{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 85px !important;}”]
Augustin Moniania (1934-2014) was a Congolese rumba vocalist, guitarist, contrabassist and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Roitelet performed and recorded with most of the legendary record labels of the golden era of Congolese Rumba such as CEFA, Opika, Loningisa and Esengo and was a member of the OK Jazz and Rock’A Mambo orchestra.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1616926923572{margin-left: -70px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-1″ icon_heading=”” align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Simaro”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1616928516438{margin-top: -20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939743610{margin-top: -20px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 75px !important;}”]
Simaro Massiya Lutumba Ndomanueno (1938-2019) was a Congolese rumba rhythm guitar player, composer and lyricist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was one of the key members of Franco Luambo’s OK Jazz orchestra. Simaro is considered as one of the great composers of Congolese rumba, probably the greatest.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616933280298{margin-top: -60px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_column][blanco_section_heading style=”style-2″ align=”center” css_animation=”” large_heading=”CREATIVE TEAM”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616931107135{margin-top: -60px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1616932157021{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-left: 200px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”290×290″ css=”.vc_custom_1616931408996{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: -5px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1616932205649{margin-left: -120px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939759259{margin-top: 10px !important;}”]
Alan Brain Delgado, Director, is a Peruvian-American filmmaker and journalist. His 26-year career includes editing and directing commercial ads, short and long form documentaries, feature-length movies and TV series. Alan Brain has worked as story editor for several prominent Peruvian journalists such as César Hildebrandt, one of the most important Peruvian journalists of the last decades. Alan has also collaborated as an editor, in several projects of the renowned Peruvian Hollywood Film Director and Producer, Luis Llosa. From 2008 until 2014, Alan worked as a documentary filmmaker for the United Nations mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There, Alan developed a passion for Congolese music and started working in The Rumba Kings.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616931107135{margin-top: -60px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1616932186290{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-left: 200px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”290×290″ css=”.vc_custom_1616931408996{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: -5px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1616932214611{margin-left: -120px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939768628{margin-top: 10px !important;}”]
Manda Tchebwa, Historical Consultant, is an interdisciplinary researcher, historian, and author from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His main body of research relates to Bantu and Afro-Caribbean traditions, culture and music. He holds a doctorate in Human Rights from the UNESCO Chair at the University of Kinshasa. Manda Tchebwa has been a consultant for several African and international organizations such as the African Union, the International Organization of La Francophonie and UNESCO. Manda Tchebwa has published more than 25 books about African civilisations, focusing on their history and their cultural traditions, 12 of them are devoted to Congolese rumba and Afro-cuban music.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616931107135{margin-top: -60px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1616932195269{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-left: 200px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”1178″ img_size=”290×290″ css=”.vc_custom_1616931408996{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: -5px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1616932225192{margin-left: -120px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616939782779{margin-top: 10px !important;}”]Alastair Johnston, Consulting Producer, is an author and small press publisher from the United States of America. He taught Visual Studies at the University of California from 1979 until 2011. After spending several months traveling through Africa, in 1983 he became passionately interested in the music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, he has written about Congolese music in WIRED, Whole Earth Review, Songlines and his own online magazine called “muzikifan”. Alastair is the author of the only biography and discography of the legendary Congolese rumba guitar player, Nicolas Kasanda, alias Dr. Nico. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”kudos” css=”.vc_custom_1616933346840{margin-top: -70px !important;}”][vc_column][blanco_section_heading style=”style-2″ align=”center” css_animation=”” large_heading=”KUDOS”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1616934494830{padding-top: 70px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1543112623546{padding-right: 45px !important;padding-left: 45px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
Simaro Lutumba – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
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“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
Simaro Lutumba – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
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“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
Simaro Lutumba – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
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“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
Simaro Lutumba – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
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“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
Simaro Lutumba – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
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“WE HAVE DIAMONDS, GOLD, COLTAN, AND ALL THAT. BUT MUSIC IS ALSO WEALTH.”
Simaro Lutumba – Former member of the OK Jazz orchestra
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” parallax=”content-moving-fade” css=”.vc_custom_1616933973298{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1520653322146{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_row_inner row_inner_container=”true”][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1520653341254{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-2″ align=”center” css_animation=”” large_heading=”With the Support Of”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1616934192135{margin-top: -80px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1089″ img_size=”250×95″ alignment=”right”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1085″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1543111557442{margin-right: 25px !important;margin-left: 25px !important;padding-top: 45px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 75px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_id=”contact”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1543111516537{margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-right-width: 40px !important;border-left-width: 40px !important;}”][blanco_section_heading style=”style-2″ align=”center” css_animation=”” small_heading=”Contact The Team” large_heading=”SEND US A MESSAGE”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text][contact-form-7 id=”4″ title=”Contact form”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]