Empire Bakuba

Empire Bakuba stood among Kinshasa’s foremost punk-soukous outfits of the 1980s, fronted by the leading Zairean vocalist Pepe Kalle, born Kabasele Yampanya in 1951 in Kinshasa, Zaire. Nicknamed The Elephant Of Zaire, Kalle cut an imposing figure onstage after a rigorous early grounding that began with his 1968 entry into African Jazz. In 1970 he launched African Choc alongside Pay-Tex and Dilu, later renaming the ensemble Empire Bakuba. By the close of the decade the group had risen to become arguably the most celebrated of all Zairean acts, spreading their polished rumba style throughout the continent. They likewise absorbed emerging dance trends with fluency, incorporating the Essombi, Oh Nager and Kwassa Kwassa steps while retaining their distinctive identity. Regional success in the 1990s then opened doors to international tours across Europe, Japan and the USA.