KIKULU

Musicians and storytellers from Congo
2nd part

Christian and Amour Makouaya : song, sanza, ngomfi, nsambi, ngoyi-ngoyi
Jean-Didier Malonga : song, nsambi

Christian and Amour Makouaya are descended from a line of musicians and storytellers of the Kongo ethnic group. They have played the sanza and a diverse range of instruments since their childhood. Based in Paris, they regularly lead sanza workshops at the Cité de la Musique.  Reflecting the musical vigils that take place in Kongo villages, their concert offers a journey to the heart of Congo-Brazzaville traditions, where there is no barrier between the musicians and the public.

For this project, they have called on their friend and talented musician Jean Didier Malonga, who has travelled from the Congo specifically for the event. Introduced to the art of the bow lute nsambi in his childhood by Léon Malanga, he masters a large part of the traditional repertoire, which he performs as an enlightened amateur. The artists, who are simultaneously singers, storytellers and multi-instrumentalists, allow us to discover the timbres of a traditional music that is rarely heard on our concert stages.