Lokua Kanza

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Lokua Kanza, Innsbruck, 2010

Pascal Lokua Kanza (born April 1958 in Bukavu , South Kivu , formerly Zaire ) is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from the Congo who interprets the music of his homeland using contemporary means.

Live and act

Kanza grew up in Kinshasa since 1964 , where he sang in the church choir. After the death of his father he could only attend school to a limited extent because he had to contribute to the living. As a musician, he worked with Ray Lema , who arranged for him to attend the Kinshasa Conservatory . There he studied classical guitar and solfège . He then worked as a guitarist with Abeti Masekini and in regional orchestras in the Congo, Gabon and the Ivory Coast . He has lived in France since 1984, where he first studied for a year with Pierre Cullaz and continued to work with Lema (album Bwana Zoulou Gang ). He also arranged for Papa Wemba and recorded with Geoffrey Oryema and Sixun . In 1991 he played in the Makossa Soul Gang of Manu Dibango . In October 1992 Lokua played at the Olympia in Paris with Angélique Kidjo , accompanied by Julia Sarr and Didi Ekukuan. Then he presented his own albums and successfully went on tour internationally; the first one won the African Music Award . In 1994 Youssou N'Dour brought the singer to the recordings for his album The Guide (Wommat) . He also toured with Peter Maffay and can be heard on his album Encounters . In 1996 he was on tour in Germany with Marla Glen and appeared with his group in the opening act. He also wrote pieces for Miriam Makeba and Nana Mouskouri and produced Sara Tavares' second album .

Prizes and awards

In 1996, Kanza received the Kora All African Music Award in the rising artist category. In 1999 he was awarded RSH Gold . In 2006 he received the Africa Festival Award from the Africa Festival Würzburg for his great musical talent .

Discography

  • Lokua Kanza (1993, Universal )
  • Wapi Yo (1995, BMG)
  • 3 (1998 , Universal)
  • Toyebi Te (2002, Universal)
  • Toto Bona Lokua (2004, No Format Collection) with Richard Bona and Gerald Toto
  • Plus Vivant (2005, Universal)
  • Nkolo (2010, World Village)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ List of the 1996 Kora event winners ( memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 16, 2010 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.koraawards.org
  2. ↑ RSH Gold Award 1999
  3. ↑ Africa Festival Award 2006
personal data
SURNAME Kanza, Lokua
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kanza, Pascal Lokua
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Congolese musician
DATE OF BIRTH April 1958
PLACE OF BIRTH Bukavu