African Jazz

Grand Kalle & l'African Jazz was perhaps the first full-time, professional orchestra in what was then called Belgian Congo now Democratic Republic of the Congo). It was founded by Joseph Kabasele Tshamala, popularly know as

Grand Kalle & l'African Jazz was perhaps the first full-time, professional orchestra in what was then called Belgian Congo now Democratic Republic of the Congo). It was founded by Joseph Kabasele Tshamala, popularly know as Grand Kalle. Among their most popular songs was "Independence Cha Cha Cha" (1960 the pan-African hit which, like much of their recorded output, used Latin dance rhythms like the Cuban chachachá.