Rumba Music

A singer who got his start in Rochereau's African Fiesta 66, switched sides to join Franco's TPOK Jazz, and went on to lead the African All Stars, Sam Mangwana is one of the greats of modern Congolese music. He is an innovator, too, experimenting with styles from other parts of Africa and from the Americas, but with this 1994 album he returns to his first love, Congo rumba. In addition to Mangwana originals, the tracks include classics by Empompo Loway, Tino Baroza and Dechaud Mwamba. The guitarists are Dizzy Mandjeku and Syran Mbenza.