Lokua Kanza

Pascal Lokua Kanza (born April 1958), known professionally as Lokua Kanza, is a Congolese singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is known for his soulful, folksy sound, which is atypical of the dancefloor-friendly African rumba music that is common in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His proficiency in blending different musical styles and cultural influences has made him a celebrated artist, admired for his distinctive and evocative musical creations. He sings in French, Swahili, Lingala, Portuguese, English, and Wolof. He was a member of the coaching panel of The Voice Afrique Francophone from 2016 to 2017.

1958–1992: Early life, education and music debut
Lokua Kanza was born Pascal Lokua Kanza in Bukavu in the South Kivu Province, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is the eldest of eight children, with a Mongo father and a Tutsi mother from Rwanda. In 1964, the family went to live in Kinshasa in a middle class area, until the day when Pascal's father, a ship's captain, died. His mother then moved to a much poorer area of the city, and Pascal had to work to feed the family as well as singing in churches.

Throughout his life in Kinshasa, Kanza received his education under his father's guidance at the National Institute of Arts (l'Institut National des Arts), which served as a hub for nurturing and training performance artists in Kinshasa, where he honed his skills. In 1977, musicologists Gerhard Kubik and Donald Kachamba visited him and his classmate, Magongo Sanga, at the institute. They learned that Pascal's father had amassed a collection of 78 rpm records since 1948, which greatly influenced Kanza's dexterity on the guitar and his vocal harmonies in the local ecclesiastical chorales.

After completing his secondary studies, he joined Abeti Masikini's band Les Redoutables as a guitarist in 1980. During this time, a decree promulgated by President Mobutu Sese Seko mandated that Pascal abandon his forename, Pascal, and simply go by "Lokua Kanza". Later, he moved to Ivory Coast and became a singer for the Best Orchestra of the Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan, a typical African ensemble often associated with hostelries and culinary establishments. The ensemble's repertoire includes a medley of Anglo-Saxon covers and renowned African compositions. In 1984, Kanza relocated to Paris to advance his musical career. He enrolled in the CIM, Paris prominent operational base for Jazz and contemporary music, and fostered synergies with stars from the West Indies like Jean-Michel Cabrimol and his group the Mafia, as well as Francky Vincent. He had two significant encounters with renowned figures in African music, establishing himself as an active member of the Parisian world music scene in the 1980s.

From 1984 to 1988, he played and sang with Ray Lema, and contributed to two of his albums — Nangadeef and Bwana Zoulou Gang in 1988, featuring Charlélie Couture, Jacques Higelin, and Alain Bashung. He also made appearances on albums by the Jazz group Sixun, Pierre Vassiliu, and Papa Wemba. In 1991, he collaborated with Cameroonian singer Manu Dibango and his Soul Makossa Gang. He began performing live, and in October 1992, he opened for Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo to critical and public acclaim. His unique repertoire, distinct from the typical Zairean music, won over the French audience.

1993–1994: Lokua Kanza and performances
In late 1992, Kanza began recording his self-titled debut studio album Lokua Kanza, using a small studio lent to him by a friend, without the support of a major studio and technicians. Before its official release, he delivered two successful acoustic concerts at the Auditorium des Halles in Paris, accompanied by his brother, percussionist Didi Ekukuan, and Senegalese singer Julia Sarr. They went on tour in France and Belgium until the album was released in October 1993.

By January 1994, the album had already sold 5,000 copies. Kanza emerged as a musical star, celebrated for his mellifluous croon, virtuoso guitar prowess, poignant melodies, and lyrical poignancy, similar to Ismaël Lô. His compositions, succinct and evocative, akin to three-minute pearls, resonated with many audiences. In May 1994, he was the opening act for Manu Dibango at the Casino de Paris, and in November, French singer Jean-Louis Aubert invited him to perform as an opening act in front of large audiences. Youssou N'Dour also enlisted his vocal talents for his album The Guide (Wommat). Following an extensive tour from November 1993 to May 1994 and the release of his album in various European countries, Japan, and North America, Kanza reunited with Youssou in June in New York City during a concert at the Manhattan Center. During the summer, he contributed to Papa Wemba's Emotion album, exploring arrangements and production at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in England. In September, Patrick Bruel invited him to perform as an opening act, which was a success despite the audience's strong devotion to Patrick Bruel. He performed three concerts at the now-defunct Hot Brass venue in Paris, introducing a new show with a larger group featuring six choristers. In December, he won the Best African Album prize at the African Music Awards.

1995–1997: Wapi Yo and other ventures
Kanza began recording his 14-track second studio album, Wapi Yo (Where Are You?), in January 1995. Wapi Yo was finally released in October of that year under RCA Records and Bertelsmann Music Group. Though much more "Westernized" than his earliest repertoire, with the title in English and a French version, most of the other tracks were in Lingala and Swahili. Kanza received criticism for producing music that deviated from the authentic African style. Paradoxically, despite criticism, Wapi Yo garnered widespread recognition in 26 countries, with particular success in several European nations. The album's lead single, "Shadow Dancer," charted in multiple European countries. L'Événement du jeudi, a French weekly magazine, lauded Wapi Yo as "one of the most beautiful things to happen to African music."

In October 1995, Kanza performed at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris for a sold-out week, becoming the first Congolese solo artist to do so since Papa Wemba in February 1990. In November, he collaborated with Ugandan artist Geoffrey Oryema on his third studio album, Night To Night, serving as the bassist on four tracks. Kanza's work as an arranger on Papa Wemba's album Emotion was awarded in December during the new edition of the African Music Awards, held in Libreville, Gabon.

In February 1996, Kanza was nominated for three awards at the Victoires de la Musique in France. On April 1, 1996, Lokua Kanza performed at Olympia Hall and continued to participate in significant spring festivals, from Bourges to Angoulême. On July 13, the Francofolies festival in La Rochelle organized "La Fête à Lokua", a soirée where a pantheon of African stars, including Youssou N'Dour and Papa Wemba, performed alongside Kanza. Shortly after, he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. He spent the remainder of the summer performing in Africa, including a concert in South Africa, the Kora Award ceremony in September (where he won the 'Most Promising Male Artist of Africa' award), and finally, the Madajazzcar festival in October.

In 1997, Kanza toured the United States, performing several concerts at the beginning of the year, and was invited by Brazilian singer Djavan Caetano Viana to participate in the Festival de Todos os Sons (Festival of All Sounds) in Curitiba in April of that year. In June 1997, he performed at the Espace Austerlitz in Paris, collaborating with various artists to support undocumented migrants in France. He returned to New York City for the Vive la World! festival in July and also performed in Los Angeles.

1998–2004: Lokua Kanza 3, Toyebi Té and Toto Bona Lokua
In June 1998, Kanza started working on his forthcoming 12-track eponymous album, Lokua Kanza 3, while on tour in Würzburg, Bavaria. While working on Lokua Kanza 3, he made substantial contributions to Natalie Merchant's second studio album, Ophelia, as an acoustic guitarist by the conclusion of the summer. Lokua Kanza 3 was released in the fall, featuring additional orchestration, including string ensembles that enhanced the songs. Lyrics were presented in Lingala, Swahili, French, and English, and the record explored diverse themes linked to everyday life. The lead single, "Don't Tell Me," was co-written by Kanza and Natalie Merchant, while "I Believe In You" had collaborative input from Lokua Kanza and Siedah Garrett, while "More Than Just Sex" was a joint effort with Kanza and Lamont Dozier.

In September 2001, Kanza signed a record deal with Universal Music to produce his impending fourth studio album, Toyebi Té, scheduled for an early 2002 release. Toyebi Té was officially released in June 2002 with 16 tracks and was a compendium of folk ballads sung in English, French, and Lingala. It featured collaborations with his four children, French jazz guitarist Sylvain Luc, French rapper Passi, the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, and his choristers, Julia Sarr and Didi Ekukuan. Billboard praised Toyebi Té, describing it as having a "marvelous sonic atmosphere." The album's retro jazz-infused single "Good Bye," featuring an English-inflected tonality, gained popularity in Kinshasa, while "Ndagukunda Tshane," sung in French with minimal accompaniment, paid homage to his late mother and mothers worldwide facing the perennial struggle against human injustice. "Kumbo" evolved as a vocal tone poem, and "Na Mileli" emerged as a gentle folk lament.

In March 2002, Kanza embarked on his European tour and later made a guest appearance in the debt relief compilation project, Drop the debt, alongside a consortium of African and American-Latin artists, including Meiway, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Aladji Ndiaye, and Zêdess. Produced by Seydoni Productions, the project aimed at debt alleviation for impoverished nations and raised awareness among artists for a more equitable world. In April 2003, Kanza held two concerts in Luanda and Cabinda Province, followed by two sold-out consecutive concerts in Yaoundé and Douala in October of that year. In November 2003, he performed in Luanda alongside the Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento.

In early 2004, Kanza collaborated with Cameroonian bassist Richard Bona and West Indian singer-songwriter Gérald Toto for a trio album project titled Toto Bona Lokua. The album was released in April of that year under the No Format! label, founded in Paris by Laurent Bizot. He later wrote four songs for Beninese Yoruba singer Zeynab Habib's 14-track album, D'un endroit à un autre.

2005–2016: Plus vivant, No Child Soldiers, Nkolo, 20-year solo career celebration, and "Lampedusa"
On February 14, 2005, Kanza released his 15-track sixth studio album titled Plus Vivant. The album was co-produced by Universal Music and EmArcy Records. It melded R&B with acoustic ballads and upbeat compositions, subtly alluding to the Congolese rumba style without overwhelming the auditory senses. The album's eponymous single featured Canadian singer Corneille Nyungura. On May 27, he performed at the Café de la Danse in Paris, and received a nomination for Best African Artist at Black Music Awards in Cotonou. In November 2005, Kanza contributed by writing three songs for Brazilian singer Gal Costa's thirtieth studio album, Hoje.

In May 2006, Kanza contributed as a guest artist to the No Child Soldiers project—an album dedicated to combating the use of child soldiers in Africa, alongside Alpha Blondy, Angélique Kidjo, Salif Keita, Ben Okafor, Tété, Corneille Nyungura, Aïcha Koné, Rokia Traoré, Youssou N'Dour, Madéka, Bibie, Mama Keïta, Extra Bokaya, and Geoffrey Oryema. In 2007, he relocated to Brazil, where he devoted several years to further advancing his career. While in Brazil, he composed songs for various artists, most notably Ney Matogrosso and Vanessa de Mata. In March 2008, Kanza and Meiwey sold-out two consecutive concerts at the Heden Golf Hotel in Cocody and at Rue Princesse in Yopougon.

On March 25, 2010, Kanza released his seventh studio album Nkolo. The album reflects Kanza's connection to his mother tongue, Lingala, and spirituality, accentuated by sober and delicate notes: chiseled guitars, thumb piano, Martenot waves, and Cristal Baschet. Infused with the influence of his new Brazilian life, Congolese rumba rhythms permeate most tracks, some of which are sung in Lingala, Swahili, Portuguese and French. Nkolo includes two duets, one with the Brazilian artist Vander Lee and the other with Fally Ipupa. Patrick Labesse, writing for Jeune Afrique, described the album as a collection of "sober and airy ballads, a mosaic of rustling moments of freedom, soft timbres and enveloping melodies" and praised the inclusion of "rare sounds of the ondes Martenot (an electronic keyboard) and the Baschet crystal (crystal organ)" in Kanza's distinctive sound. The album's single "Nakozonga" narrates the story of emigrants who aspire to return home one day and features bassist Pathy Molesso, percussionists Alex Tran and Komba Mafwala, and vocalist Fally Ipupa. To promote the album, Kanza embarked on his European tour with several dates in France, Spain and Germany.

In June 2012, Kanza engaged in promotional activities for his album in the Antilles during a music festival and later performed at the N'Sangu Ndji-Ndji music festival in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo. In October 2012, he received a nomination at the Ndule Awards 2012 in Abidjan. In February 2014, Kanza participated at the Amani Festival in Goma, alongside Lexxus Legal and Innoss'B. On May 31 and June 1, 2014, he celebrated his 20-year solo career by giving two concerts: one at the Théâtre de la Verdure and the other on the stage of the eighth edition of the International Jazz Festival also in Kinshasa. He was accompanied on stage by Richard Bona, Jean Goubald Kalala, Sara Tavares, Fally Ipupa, Olivier Tshimanga, and Malaika Lokua. He then recorded a duet with Christophe Maé, aptly titled "Lampedusa," which appears on Maé's album L'attrape-rêves.

In October 2016, Kanza became a member of the panel of judges for The Voice Afrique Francophone, alongside A'Salfo from Magic System, Charlotte Dipanda, and Singuila.

2017–2020: Bondeko and Moko
In November 2017, Kanza collaborated with Richard Bona and Gérald Toto on their second trio album project, Bondeko, released on the No Format! label. Bondeko included 14 tracks and fused samba-style rhythms with strummed guitars, flute, and subtle electro atmospherics. Reviewing for Le Monde, Patrick Labesse described the album as a "perfect dream of freshness, lightness and softness, with its silken voices and its fluid guitars, without anything of that order being planned."

On September 12, 2020, Kanza announced the release of his eighth studio album, Moko, during an interview on Radio Okapi. The album was recorded in 12 countries, sung in 14 languages. It included guest appearances by Manu Dibango, Richard Bona, Wasis Diop, Paco Séry, Sidiki Diabaté, Charlotte Dipanda, Pamela Baketana, Grady Malonda, and many others. Moko symbolizes peace, unity, and togetherness and was officially released on April 21, 2021, through a co-production partnership between Nzela Productions and Universal Music Africa.

Discography
Over the years, Lokua Kanza has continued to release a series of successful albums, including:
 * Lokua Kanza (1993, Universal Music)
 * Wapi Yo (1995, RCA and BMG)
 * Lokua Kanza 3 (1998, Universal)
 * Toyebi Te (2002, Universal)
 * Toto Bona Lokua (2004, No Format!) with Richard Bona & Gerald Toto
 * Plus Vivant (2005, Universal Music and EmArcy Records)
 * Nkolo (2010)
 * Moko (2021)