Soukous

Soukous (also known as lingala or congo, and previously as African rumba) is a musical genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of

Soukous (also known as lingala or congo, and previously as African rumba) is a musical genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa. "Soukous" (derived from the French word secouer, to shake) was originally the name of a dance popular in the Congos in the late 1960s, and danced to an African version of rumba. Although the genre was initially known as rumba (sometimes termed specifically as African rumba), the term Soukous has come to refer to African rumba and its subsequent developments.

Soukous is called congo music in West Africa, and lingala in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania - referring to the Lingala language of the region from where it originated. In the 1980s and early 1990s, a fast paced style of soukous known as kwassa kwassa – named after a popular dance, was popular. A style called ndombolo, also named after a dance, is currently popular.