Konono N°1

Formed in the 1960s in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Konono N°1 developed a hybrid ensemble in which amplified likembés, voice and street percussion extend Bazombo traditions into an urban context. Founded by likembe player Mawangu Mingiedi, the group relies on repetitive motifs, dense rhythms and an intentionally saturated sound that brings this ritual music closer to electronic and rock aesthetics without abandoning its Congolese roots. Long active in working-class neighborhoods and at ceremonies, the collective drew international attention in the early 2000s with the album Congotronics (2004, Crammed Discs), followed by Live at Couleur Café (2007) and Assume Crash Position (2010), which document both extended collective trances and more structured formats. Konono N°1 then expanded its exchanges with other scenes, notably through the record Konono N°1 Meets Batida (2016), which merges their approach with Lusophone electronic textures. After the death of Mawangu Mingiedi in 2015, Konono N°1 has continued to operate with musicians from the group's historic core, maintaining its distinctive aesthetic between traditional Congolese music, collective improvisation and the energy of contemporary amplified music.