| Kevin Mfinka, a young percussionist and singer from the Republic of the Congo, is a former member of Les Tambours du Brazza.In this new album, he sings of hope and exile, love, peace, war, despair... He is accompanied on traditional African instruments and also a guitar, a bass and choruses. About Kevin Mfinka Kevin M'finka Tsamouna was born in 1973 in Congo-Brazzaville. A traditionally trained singer and musician, he joined Les Tambours de Brazza when he was very young. Civil war broke out in the Congo when he was abroad, on tour with the group. Kevin M'finka took refuge in France, where a new musical adventure began, as he met other musicians from different countries and different backgrounds. Eager to share his culture, he began to teach percussion, and also the traditional dances and songs of the Congo. But the true sensibility of this discreet artist was revealed in intimate concerts before small audiences, when he performed songs of his own composition to the sound of the likembe (a lamellaphone with a box-like body and 8-12 keys). His success led him to record his first album, ‘Percussions congolaises’, devoted to Congolese percussion music. This broadened his artistic horizon and gave him the idea of creating his own group. Thus ‘Africa Walla’ came into being, with a repertoire ranging from traditional African music to jazz. The rhythms of the n'goma, djembe, dundum and other drums combine with the melodies of the guitar and double bass. The result is full of life, giving the listener a complete change of scene. When Kevin M'finka Tsamouna returned to Brazzaville in 2004 he met the great musician Zao, and together they worked on the piece entitled ‘Lu wa’ (track 3). In 2005 he was billed with the great Mory Kanté. Kevin M'finka Tsamouna continues to cultivate his artistic emotions, but without forgetting his origins. He is the founder of MBOTE, a non-profit-making organisation whose aim is to promote African music, while also supporting humanitarian and cultural projects. |
