User:Frankfabrizzio

SOLO SITA BIOGRAPHY

Solo Sita whose real names are Zola Solo Sita was born in Kinshasa and started singing in church at the tender age of six years. At twelve he started writing his own songs and at sixteen started a group called Comick-Comet, based in Matadi.

The second group was called Comet Mambo which was always in Matadi too. There were good musicians over there – OK Jazz, Afrisa International, Stukass Boys amongst others and so competition was stiff.

Because some Comet Mambo band members like Shimita, Checedan, Makolain and Mimi Ley went to Zaiko band, Zola Solo joined the group Empire Bakuba of Pepe Kalle. Two months after joining Bakuba, Solo made his first tour of Gabon alongside the entertaining dancer Emoro. On coming back the group made an album ‘Zabolo’ and toured more African countries including Cote D’Ivoire, Mali, Benin, Burkina Fasso, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville. They later went to on a European tour.

In 1984, Solo Sita became the head of the band and at the same time became the originator of the dance style ‘Massassi Calculer’ which generated a lot of fury in both Africa and Europe. He did the songs ‘Simplicite’ and ‘Plainte d’Amour’ (which are available on Youtube).

In July 1986 Solo Sita left Empre Bakuba and went to Paris where he met Kanda Bongoman. Kanda invited him to sing with him on the album “Sai Liza’. Solo was a great animator on the album where one hears him chant ‘Kuassa kuassa, Kuassa!’ After doing his album ‘Solo Moke Moke’ he became a hot cake with all musicians in Paris wanting him to be their animator. Solo went on to start ‘Malinga System’ alongside Geo Bilongo. Other members in the group were Jarrys Fimbo Komba Bello and Chellid.

‘Soukouss 360 was his second album as a solo artist. Kanda Bongoman once again asked Solo Sita to accompany him on a tour of Australia. They then performed in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and all the way to the United States of America

In 1996 the album ‘Trahison’ followed. At the same time Solo, Shimita and Freddie De Majunga (of Kin Stars) did two songs “Choisis’ and ‘Prés de toi’. ‘Soukouss Expres’, a band based in the islands of ReUnion invited Zola Solo and they did the song ‘Kelly’ and afterwards a remix of ‘Allah’. Tours as a solo artist followed and Solo Sita went to Niger,Guadeloupe,Republic of Dominique, Comoros islands then to Europe – Belgium, Switzerland, Germany then back to Matadi in D.R.C.

With Soukouss Stars Solo Sita made the album ‘Niekesse’ which was a great hit in Europe and Africa and the tours continued. A compilation of ‘The Best Of Solo Sita’ is coming up on the Internet and he is redoing two titles with Pappy Tex (formerly of Empire Bakuba and famous for the song ‘Kanda Ya Nini’), ‘100 pour 100’ and ‘Muambiye’. Hilarion Nguema of Gabon and the great Sam Mangwana (of Angola) together did a collaboration with Solo Sita in 1997 in Paris. Lately Solo Sita has co-founded the group ‘African Kiesse’ alongside Dally Kimoko, Phillo Kola and Seskain Molenga (both formerly in Afrisa International of Tabu Ley), Flavian Makabi (the former bass guitarist of T.P.O.K. Jazz), Esby and Jose. The group has two dancers and perform every evening in Paris where they are located. They are working on an album which may be finished by the end of the year and will blend Soukouss and Rumba hits.