Louis Albert William Longomba (born May 5, 1962), known professionally as Awilo Longomba, is a Congolese soukous singer, composer, drummer, songwriter, dancer, and producer. The second child of Vicky Longomba and maternal uncle of French player Claude Makélélé, Longomba is known for his avant-garde "techno-soukous" and performances.
Between 1980 and 1995, he made his music debut as a drummer for Viva La Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Génération, and Loketo. He rose to fame in 1995 with the release of his debut solo studio album Moto Pamba, which catapulted him to stardom in Africa and Europe. The album's success won him two consecutive Best Artist of Central Africa at the 1996 and 1997 Kora Awards. In 1998, he released his second studio album Coupé Bibamba. The album's eponymous lead single, featuring Jocelyne Béroard, topped charts in Africa, Europe, and the Americas for consecutive weeks and is venerable as Africa's most serenaded Lingala compositions. He became the first artist to sell out the Lagos Stadium for three consecutive days. The song was later featured in the "World Tribute to the Funk" compilation by Sony Music, featuring a new funk remix version with James D-Train Williams. The remix became a summer hit and was later translated into Nigerian local languages and performed in churches. The song also gained popularity in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and Malawi, and had a significant impact on the local culture.
Longomba is the first Congolese artist to have performed in São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as the only Sub-Saharan African, along with Miriam Makeba, to have performed in Libya. His third studio album Kafou Kafou, released in July 2000, later won him the Judges' Special Awards at the 2001 Kora Awards for his contribution to African music. He is also one of Africa and Europe's "most wanted" Congolese artists.
Early life and career
Awilo Longomba was born as Louis Albert William Longomba on May 5, 1962, in Kinshasa (formerly Léopoldville) to a Mongo father and a Ngombe mother from Équateur Province. His father, Vicky Longomba, was the lead vocalist and founder of Tout Puissant OK Jazz. His sister, Asta Paola, was Viva la Musica's female vocalist. As a child, Longomba spent every moment around music, frequently attending his father's rehearsals. His father, influenced by his perception of contemporary musicians as dissolute figures, often clothed himself in sartorial splendor and ardently discouraged his son from pursuing a career in music. Logomba's passion for music burgeoned exponentially, leading him to veer from formal pedagogy and become a drummer for various musical groups in Kinshasa, including "Orchestre de Lita Bembo." He later joined Viva La Musica, led by Papa Wemba as a drummer, and toured with Afro-zouk crooner Olivier N'Goma in 1985.
In 1986, as part of their Euro–Asia tours, Longomba and Viva La Musica toured Matonge, a culturally rich neighborhood known for its Congolese influences, to record their album Destin ya Moto in Gina Efonge's bar. There, his stature as an exceptional drummer within the group gained momentum. In 1989, he permanently relocated to Paris and applied for his Carte de Séjour. In Paris, he encountered discriminatory attitudes against African immigrants and grew resentful of the rise of Jean-Marie Le Pen's movement, which underscored the prevalence of racism in France, particularly within political parties like the National Front. Though not as high-profile as Ray Lema, he had settled into a life as a Parisian and had formed a personal attachment to the city. In 1992, Longomba left Viva La Musica and formed his musical ensemble, La Nouvelle Génération, of which he became the leader, alongside members Luciana Demingongo, Lidjo Kwempa, Fataki Ndoko José, and Fafa de Molokaï. The newly established band rapidly gained popularity within the precincts of Europe and produced several albums. He collaborated on numerous records in France and toured globally with renowned African artists such as Tshala Muana, Oliver N'Goma, and Kanda Bongo Man. He became a French citizen in 1994, having married a French woman.
1995–1998: Moto Pamba
In 1995, he left La Nouvelle Génération and went on to release his debut solo studio album Moto Pamba later that same year. He served as the album's composer, lead singer, and drummer, with support from Shimita, Ballou Canta, Dindo Yogo, Dally Kimoko, Sam Mangwana, Syran Mbenza and Rigo Star. The album was a great success and led to tours across Africa and Europe. In 1996, he promoted the album through a live show at Parc de la Villette and later won the Best Artist of Central Africa at the Kora Awards. He received the same accolade on October 1, 1997.