Always combative every time it was necessary to return the ship afloat. This year, 2018, N’yoka Longo has a total of 51 years of musical career that started in the Belguide orchestra before joining Zaïko Langa Langa. A course makes ups and downs but without undermining its desire to preserve this orchestra, which has become a real heritage of Congolese music.
Born in Kinshasa on September 7, 1953, Jossart N’yoka Longo Mvula made his musical debut in the Kasa-Vubu Belguide Orchestra in 1967 with Gégé Mangaya, Teddy Sukami, Enoch Zamwangana and later Pépé Felly who had them joined. From the flank of this orchestra will be born Zaïko Langa Langa, in December 1969. The first frame is composed of Jossart Nyoka Longo, Grandpa Felly, Evoloko, Uncle Bapius, Enoch Zamwangana, Teddy Sukami, Jules Shungu Wembadio, Bimi Ombale, Pierre Nkumu, Delez, etc.
Then came Mbuta Matima, Mbuta Mashakado, Mavuela Somo, and three years later Gina Efonge. At the height of his glory, Zaiko Langa-Langa will know, in December 1974, a first wave of departures of some tenors like Jules Shungu Wembadio, Evoloko, Mavuela, Gina wa Gina as well as Bozi Boziana and Djo Mali, who will be joined, two years later, by Mashakado in the Isifi Lokolé orchestra. These starts will be compensated by the arrival of Lengi Lenga and Likinga Redo, and this new blood will still carry the orchestra to the firmament under the leadership of Jossart N’yoka Longo.
In 1977, Jossart N’yoka Longo is part of the Zaire National Orchestra wing Tabu Ley, who represented the country at the Lagos Festival with Abeti, Tabu Ley, Henessy Malao, Mimi Ley, Diasi Kiadi, Likinga, Mbuta Mashakado and Manwaku Waku. In 1981, Evoloko, who had returned to the fold in the meantime, will leave the orchestra with Roxy Tshimapaka and Djo Mali to found the Langa Langa Stars orchestra. This orchestra garnered huge success and overshadowed Zaiko Langa Langa who was relegated to the background.
Like previous times, Zaïko had rebounded and built a good reputation on the international scene. Two years after a tour in Japan, Zaïko Langa Langa will experience another jolt with the departure, on May 6, 1988, of Bimi Ombale, Ilo Pablo, JP Buse, Small Fish, Popolipo, Mbuta Mashakado, Jimmy Yaba, Mandjeku Jerba, Yvon Kabamba, José Piano Piano, Baby Atalaku, Joe Moplat and Uncle Mazaza left to create Zaiko Familia dei. Released from prison in Portugal a year later, Likinga Redo will give preference to this new group.
Stayed with Bapius, Zamwangana and Matima, Mery Djo and Nono; N’yoka Longo will recruit Dido Yongo, Adamo Ekula, Thylon Muanda, Petit Aziza, Baroza, Chiro and Petit Cachet, Adoula Doudou, Mundial, Shango, Motingia, Célé Mbonda. Malage Lugendo will come three years after strengthening the team after the departure of Dindo Yogo. The orchestra will benefit in 1996 from a reinforcement with the incorporation in the team of Gégé Mangaya, Volvo, Shango, Modikilo Modeste, Endho, Laudy, Petit Poisson, Roucoulet.
In 2003, on tour in Europe, Malage, Laudy, Mundial, Lofanga will fail and N’yoka Longo will recruit, to fill the gap, Déo Brondo, Willy Bula, Lassa Lacolyte, Blanchard, Chou Lay. Sounding the end of the stay in Europe in 2009, Nyoka Longo will ask his musicians to pack their bags to return to the fold; out of 26 musicians only Gege Mangaya, Chou Lay and Doudou Adoula will answer the call.
With this small team reinforced by the return of Lola Mwana and other locally recruited musicians, Zaïko Langa Langa has managed to defend his nickname ” Bakolo ngwasumu ” by putting everyone in agreement with the animations such as’ ‘Mama Siska ye wana’ and ” Omoni mokongo ya koba ”.
Fifty-one years into his career, Jossart N’yoka Longo is still in the limelight and continues to cheer music lovers with good music, helped by young musicians who perpetuate the skills of their talented predecessors.
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