Tabu Ley Rochereau

About

Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, better known as Tabu Ley Rochereau, was a leading African rumba singer-songwriter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was the leader of Orchestre Afrisa International, as well as one of Africa’s most influential vocalists and prolific songwriters. Along with guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda, Tabu Ley pioneered soukous and internationalised his music by fusing elements of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American rumba. He has been described as “the Congolese personality who, along with Mobutu, marked Africa’s 20th century history.” He was dubbed “the African Elvis” by the Los Angeles Times. After the fall of the Mobutu regime, Tabu Ley also pursued a political career. His musical career ran parallel to the other great Congolese rhumba bandleader and rival Franco Luambo Makiadi who ran the band TPOK Jazz throughout the 1960s, 1970s and ’80s.

Albums/Songs:

• The Voice of Lightness: Congo Classics 1961-1977
• 1966-1969
• Tabu Ley
• Contra Ma Volonté
• Babeti Soukous
• Heart Of Zaire
• L’Afrique Danse N° 4
• Africa Worldwide: 35th Anniversary Album
• L’African Fiesta, Volume 1 (1962-1963)
• Muzina
• Omona Wapi
• Kebo Beat
• Volume 1: Ekeseni, 1977-78-79-80
• Africa Worldwide
• Man From Kinshasa
• The Voice of Lightness, Volume 2

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