Category Archives: Music

Interview with Baloji, a black sorcerer in a whites’ country

9 March 2008 – 11:30

A few weeks ago, I heard about Baloji, a young rapper of Congolese origin who lives in Belgium. I researched him on the Internet and was able to listen to sound bites of his numbers, to view one of his clips and – I was caught.
I enjoyed listening to this young man from the Congo, [...]

By Cédric Kalonji | Comments (3)

The Congolese, the best dancers in the World

30 December 2007 – 16:51

My grandparents danced to indépendance Cha Cha and my parents to Elombe Sese. The former inherited it from the colonials; those who came after them didn’t build anything and, in addition to being unable to maintain their heritage, distinguished themselves by their ability to tear everything to shreds. Perhaps they didn’t realize or pretended not [...]

By Cédric Kalonji | Also posted in Style | Comments (0)

The two survivors of the Congo’s troubled years

15 December 2007 – 4:07

Despite the turbulences endured by the Congo in the last few years, there are two survivors: the alcoholic beverage industry and the music industry. With the terrible pilfering that happened in 1991 and 1993, almost all businesses, both public and private, were devastated. The last years of Mobutu’s rule and ten years of warfare have [...]

By Cédric Kalonji | Also posted in Advertising | Comments (0)