Staff Benda Bilili

Staff Benda Bilili

Staff Benda Bilili is a Congolese group from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The band lives around the grounds of the city zoo and plays music rooted in rumba, with elements of old-school rhythm and blues and reggae.

Band line-up and performance style

The core of the group consists of four senior singers and guitarists who all have disabilities caused by poliomyelitis in childhood. They travel and perform in specially customised tricycles. The band is also backed by a younger rhythm section made up of former street children who were taken in by the older members.

The soloist is an 18-year-old player who performs elaborate guitar-like leads on a one-string lute that he designs and builds himself from a tin can.

Recordings

The group’s debut album is Tres Tres Fort, issued on Crammed Discs. It is produced over three years by Vincent Kenis, who is associated with recordings by Konono No.1, Kasai Allstars and the Congotronics series. Most of the recording takes place in the Kinshasa zoo. The album also includes four videos by Barret & de la Tullaye.

Members

The group includes Montana Kinunu, Coco Yakala Ngambali and Theo Nzonza Nsituvuidi.