My upcoming single, “Missed Connection”, is a fusion of several different genres, with an overall sunny, Caribbean feel. For the harmony and guitar arrangement, I drew inspiration from African styles of music, particularly soukous. Learning those rhythms and techniques for the electric guitar was fun and challenging. I thought I’d share some of the history I learned in my research about this style of music.

 

Soukous is an uptempo, guitar-driven style of African dance music that originated in the late 1960s. The guitar parts are syncopated and very bright, often played in the guitar’s highest register. Soukous originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) as an evolution of the Congolese rumba, which was a Congolese spin on Afro-Cuban music. The name “Congolese rumba” is a bit of a misnomer, because the music was inspired by son Cubano, not rumba.

 

Zaïko Langa Langa were one of the early soukous groups that took the Congolese rumba style and incorporated elements of US rock and roll and soul music. Soukous found widespread popularity throughout the rest of Africa, parts of Europe, and the USA.

 

Recommended song: "Congo Nouveau - Afrique Nouvelle" (1967) by African Fiesta and Tabu Ley Rochereau

Recommended album: “Soukous Trouble” (1988) by Loketo

 

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