Kanda Bongo Man became the singer for Orchestra Belle Mambo in 1973, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Ley.
His solo career only took off after moving to Paris in 1979, where his music started to incorporate elements of then vibrant zouk music that originated in the French West Indies.
Kanda is known for the structural changes he implemented to soukous music.
The previous approach was to sing several verses and have one guitar solo at the end of the song.
Kanda Bongo Man revolutionised soukous by encouraging guitar solos after every verse and even sometimes at the beginning of the song.
His form of soukous gave birth to the kwassa kwassa dance rhythm, where the hips move back and forth while the hands move to follow the hips.
His first solo albums, “Iyole” in 1981 and “Djessy” in 1982, were hits.
They will perform at the Theatre of Marcellus, on Friday, March 27.
The show starts at 8pm, but doors open at 7.15pm and there will be an entrance fee.
