Lokua Kanza

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In 1984, he 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.

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.

In late 1992, Lokua 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.

Following an extensive tour from November 1993 to May 1994 and the release of his album in various European countries, Japan, and North America, Lokua 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.

By January 1994, the album had already sold 5,000 copies.

Lokua 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).

Lokua Kanza began recording his 14-track second studio album, Wapi Yo (Where Are You?), in January 1995.

Released under RCA Records and Bertelsmann Music Group in October 1995, 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.

He was a coach in The Voice Afrique Francophone in 2016 and 2017.

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.