bbrave is Benjamin Lebrave, founder of the incredible Akwaaba Music label. For the past 2 years, Akwaaba’s been building an incredibly diverse roster of contemporary artists from all over Africa. From Malian traditional music to kuduro, highlife to salsa, Akwaaba has been covering much ground, yet one important piece has been missing: Congolese soukous. Perhaps the most significant genre across the entire continent during the 1970s and 1980s, and a style particularly dear to Benjamin’s ears. The label is in the process of fixing this, with an imminent release from Zaiko Langa Langa, soukous pioneers still touring to this day. But before that, bbrave serves us this here pungent mix of Congolese classics. This is no afrofunk, this is pure soukous: raunchy snares, melodic guitars, and frenzied tempos. The whole of Africa has danced to this, we hope you do too!

Sam Mangwana – Georgette Eckins

Prince Luciano Kimpouni et les Kamba Kamba – Mbuale

Zaïko Langa Langa – Ngeli Ngeli

Nyboma – Doublé Doublé

Quatre Etoiles – Amerika

Mbilia Bel – La Beauté d’une Femme

Etoile de Namaco – Ma Chère Maman

Shaba Kahamba – Pambindoni / Ndele Okozongela / Youyou

Pépé Kallé – Vengi

Michel Moutouari – Les Vacances au Pays