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Soukous

A popular teenage dance music from '70s Zaire. From the French word for "shake," it is the generic name for an influential music of Zaire and the Congo that has spread across Africa. The style combines local musical ingredients with Cuban/Caribbean rhythms and elements of '30s and '40s American country music (the guitar sound of Jimmie Rodgers, for example).

Soukous Album Highlights

Super Guitar Soukous
Various Artists Super Guitar Soukous
Heartbeat Soukous
Various Artists Heartbeat Soukous
Babeti Soukous
Tabu Ley Rochereau / Tabu Ley Rochereau & Afrisa International Orchestra Babeti Soukous
Omana Wapi
Franco & Rochereau / Tabu Ley Rochereau Omana Wapi
Bakitani
Bana O.K. Bakitani
Africa Worldwide: 35th Anniversary Album
Tabu Ley Rochereau Africa Worldwide: 35th Anniversary Album
Amour Fou
Kanda Bongo Man Amour Fou
Zaire-Ghana
Zaiko Langa Langa Zaire-Ghana
Soukous in Central Park
Kanda Bongo Man Soukous in Central Park
Non Stop Non Stop
Kanda Bongo Man Non Stop Non Stop
Le Voyageur
Papa Wemba Le Voyageur
Emotion
Papa Wemba Emotion
Aki Special
Prince Nico Mbarga Aki Special
Makassi
Sam Fan Thomas Makassi
Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba Papa Wemba
Bakala Dia Kuba
Papa Wemba Bakala Dia Kuba
Nouvelle Ecriture
Papa Wemba Nouvelle Ecriture
Soukous Siren
Tshala Muana Soukous Siren
Francophonic
Franco Francophonic
Benga Blast!
Daniel Owino Misiani & Shirati Jazz Benga Blast!
Aladji
Sam Mangwana Aladji
Phénoméne
M'Bilia Bel Phénoméne
Yalowa
M'Bilia Bel Yalowa
Extra Ball
Loketo Extra Ball
Rumba Congo
Kekele Rumba Congo
Merveilles du Passé 1957-1975
Various Artists Merveilles du Passé 1957-1975
Sao Salvador
Ricardo Lemvo Sao Salvador
Greatest Hits 1974-1976
Les Bantous de la Capitale Greatest Hits 1974-1976
Bobo Yéyé: Belle Époque in Upper Volta
Various Artists Bobo Yéyé: Belle Époque in Upper Volta
Super Soukous
Diblo Dibala / Diblo & The Loketo Band / Loketo Super Soukous
Maria Tebbo
Sam Mangwana Maria Tebbo
Sam Mangwana Sings Dinu Vangu
Sam Mangwana Sam Mangwana Sings Dinu Vangu
Bameli Soy
M'Bilia Bel Bameli Soy
The Voice of Lightness: Congo Classics 1961-1977
Tabu Ley Rochereau The Voice of Lightness: Congo Classics 1961-1977
1972/1973/1974
Franco 1972/1973/1974
Feu D'artifice
Pépé Kallé / Tabu Ley Rochereau Feu D'artifice
The Very Best of Franco & Sam Mangwana Vol 1: Oú Est Le Serieux?
Franco The Very Best of Franco & Sam Mangwana Vol 1: Oú Est Le Serieux?
The Very Best of Franco & Sam Mangwana Vol. 2: Coopération
Franco The Very Best of Franco & Sam Mangwana Vol. 2: Coopération
Merveilles du Passe: 1971-1977
Tabu Ley Rochereau Merveilles du Passe: 1971-1977
African Ambience
Various Artists African Ambience
Compact D'Afrique
Various Artists Compact D'Afrique
The Sound of Kinshasa: Guitar Classics from Zaire
Various Artists The Sound of Kinshasa: Guitar Classics from Zaire
Holding Up Half the Sky: Voices of African Women
Various Artists Holding Up Half the Sky: Voices of African Women
Majurugenta
Ghorwane Majurugenta
Big Noise: A Mambo Inn Compilation
Various Artists Big Noise: A Mambo Inn Compilation
Africa: Never Stand Still
Various Artists Africa: Never Stand Still
Rough Guide to World Music
Various Artists Rough Guide to World Music
Putumayo Presents: Afro-Latino
Various Artists Putumayo Presents: Afro-Latino
Travelogue: A Musical Journey Through Africa
Various Artists Travelogue: A Musical Journey Through Africa
Attention Na Sida
Franco & OK Jazz Attention Na Sida
Belle Epoque
Mose Se 'Fan Fan' Belle Epoque
Best of Pepe Kalle
Pépé Kallé Best of Pepe Kalle
Mi Latinoamérica Sufre
Meridian Brothers Mi Latinoamérica Sufre
Exploration
M'Bilia Bel Exploration
Rumba Music
Sam Mangwana Rumba Music
Cantos de Esperança
Sam Mangwana Cantos de Esperança
Galo Negro
Sam Mangwana Galo Negro
Belissimo
M'Bilia Bel Belissimo
World Psychedelic Classics, Vol. 3: Love's a Real Thing
Various Artists World Psychedelic Classics, Vol. 3: Love's a Real Thing
Voodoo Love Inna Champeta Land
Colombiafrica Voodoo Love Inna Champeta Land
Tata Masamba
Ricardo Lemvo Tata Masamba
Metamorphosis
Samba Ngo Metamorphosis
Larger Than Life
Pépé Kallé Larger Than Life
All Over the Map
Various Artists All Over the Map
Hemisphere: World Music Sampler
Various Artists Hemisphere: World Music Sampler
Rough Guide to Africa
Various Artists Rough Guide to Africa
Queens of African Music
Various Artists Queens of African Music
Kinavana
Kekele Kinavana
Congo Life
Kekele Congo Life
Global Celebration: Gatherings
Various Artists Global Celebration: Gatherings
Soo Wa
Dindo Yogo Soo Wa
African Heartbeat: The Essential African Music Collection
Various Artists African Heartbeat: The Essential African Music Collection