Alain Mabanckou

Author, journalist and educator, Alain Mabanckou, took a deep dive into the world of music production after publishing his book, Black Bazar. Inspired to adapt his book into a music project, he created two full length albums for the label, Lusafrica. Along with our host, author and ethnomusicologist, Samuel Lamontagne, Mabanckou traces the origins and wide ranging influence of several of Congo’s most important music genres, including Congolese Rumba, Soukous and Ndombolo. They also touch upon the overlapping nature of music and poetry, reflect on the new generation of Congolese musicians working in France today, and much more!