Lokua Kanza

Lokua Kanza

Individual

Origin

République Démocratique du Congo (Zaïre)

Biography

Biography of Lokua Kanza

Lokua Kanza is a Congolese singer and composer born on March 24, 1958, in Équateur (former Équateurville) in Zaire (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo)1. A versatile and international artist, he is recognized for his warm voice, melodic compositions, and collaborations with numerous musicians from around the world2.

Childhood and Education

Lokua Kanza was born in the Équateur district in the Democratic Republic of the Congo3. He grew up in Zaire and developed a passion for music at a very young age. After completing his primary and secondary education, he went to France to continue his studies, where he refined his musical skills and learned to play several instruments4.

His self-taught musical training and melodic sensibility make him a unique artist in the landscape of African world music5.

Debut and Solo Career

After collaborating with several Congolese artists, Lokua Kanza embarked on a solo career at the beginning of the 1990s. His first solo album marked his entry into the international arena of world music6.

His solo albums include:

  • Lokua Kanza (1993)
  • 3 (1998)
  • Toyebi Te (2002)
  • Plus Vivant (2005)
  • Nkolo (2010)
  • Moko (2021)7

Composer and International Collaborator

One of the most remarkable aspects of Lokua Kanza’s career is his prolific output as a composer for other artists8. He has composed songs for renowned artists:

  • Papa Wemba: several tracks on the album Emotion (1995)
  • Diane Solo: Abidjan, Se Yo on the album Superman (1998)
  • Busi Mhlongo: Yiswe Wabant’a Bami on UrbanZulu (1998)
  • Sara Tavares: I’ve Got a Song in My Heart, Tu es O Sol, Mi Ma Bo on Mi Ma Bo
  • Noa: Hawk and Sparrow on Blue Touches Blue (2000)
  • Miriam Makeba: Amaliya, Lindelani on Homeland (album nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album — Lokua is featured on several tracks)9
  • Nana Mouskouri: Le chemin de la joie (featuring Lokua Kanza) on Fille du Soleil (2002)
  • Deep Forest: Loco, Mosika on Deep Africa (2013)
  • Christophe Maé: Lampedusa on L’Attrape-rêves (2016)

He also collaborated closely with Ray Lema, producing multiple albums together (Medecin, Bwana Zulu Gang, Nangadeef, Tout Partout, Stoptime), and participated in various international projects10.

Film and Advertising Music

Lokua Kanza also composes for cinema and television:

  • Saraka Bô (1996) – collaboration with Jean-Claude Petit
  • Adanggaman (2000) – Best Original Score award at the African Film Festival, Khouribga, Morocco 200211
  • Lumumba (2000) – collaboration with Jean-Claude Petit
  • Congo River (2006) – “François de Roubaix” award for music at the 38th International Maritime Film Festival of Toulon12

He also composed advertising music for Orange Côte d’Ivoire (1998) and Orange RDC (2012), as well as for the 15th anniversary of Rawbank RDC (2017)13.

UNICEF Ambassador

In 2021, Lokua Kanza was appointed National Ambassador of UNICEF in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, using his fame to advocate for humanitarian causes and children’s rights14.

Personal Life

Lokua Kanza lives between France and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In July 2023, at the age of 65, he married a white woman, an event reported in the press15.

See Also

  • Congolese rumba
  • World music
  • Papa Wemba
  • Ray Lema

  1. Lokua Kanza, Wikipedia. ↩︎

  2. Ibid. ↩︎

  3. Ibid. ↩︎

  4. Ibid. ↩︎

  5. Ibid. ↩︎

  6. Ibid. ↩︎

  7. Ibid. ↩︎

  8. Ibid. ↩︎

  9. Ibid. ↩︎

  10. Ibid. ↩︎

  11. Adanggaman, Wikipedia. ↩︎

  12. Congo River, Wikipedia. ↩︎

  13. Ibid. ↩︎

  14. Lokua Kanza obtains the title of National Ambassador of UNICEF, UNICEF. ↩︎

  15. Yvan Tounssi Ndjock, “Lokua Kanza: the singer married a white woman at the age of 65”, Newstories Africa, July 24, 2023. ↩︎

Discography

Videos