The lead singer of Zaiko Langa Langa, Nyoka Longo has been at the forefront of post-independence Zairian pop music for more than three decades. With his deep, soulful vocals set to the tough, guitar-based, rumba-meets-rock sound of Zaiko Langa Langa, Longo remains an influential force in the music of his homeland.
Longo was a student when he joined with percussionist D.V. Moanda to form Zaiko Langa Langa in 1970. The group's name was derived from the Zairean expression, "Zaire Yä Ba Koko," which translates in English as "the Zaire of our ancestors." Former members of the band, which often features more than twenty musicians and dancers, include Papa Wemba, Evoloko Jocker, Bozi Boziana, and Pepe Feli. In 1988, the group divided into two distinct factions. While several members formed the short-lived group, Zaiko Langa Langa Familia Dei (Family Of God), Longo continued to work with a revamped lineup.
