Antoine Kolosoy
Antoine Wendo Kolosoy, popularly called Papa Wendo, effortlessly mixed rumba, beguine, waltz, tango and cha-cha, creating the Congolese rhythm that mesmerized the entire continent of Africa in the late '50s to mid '80s.

Losing both of his parents at a very young age led the self-taught guitarist to an orphanage. It was there that he discovered his passion for music. Kolosy, 13 at the time, was expelled from the orphanage because the organization, which was run by the Society of the Missionaries of Africa, did not approve of his lyrics.

While music was his passion, Wendo did not pursue it professionally until the mid-40's. He traveled and worked as a sailor in Congo, Senegal and Cameroon. In 1948, he recorded "Marie Louise", a song that became one of his greatest hits and earned him international success.

"On The Rumba River", a documentary produced by French filmmaker, Jaques Sarasin, was based on Kolosoy's life.

Fela Kuti
Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti, widely-known as Fela, was the pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, a complex fusion of Jazz, Funk, Ghanaian/Nigerian High-life, psychedelic rock, and traditional West African chants and rhythms. In 1958, he moved to London, where he studied music at the Trinity College of Music. It was during his time at the college that he formed his first band Koola Lobitos, playing a mixture of Jazz and high-life.

After his return to Nigeria in 1963, Fela recruited new members for Koola Lobitos, the group he formed while he was in London. In the late '60s, the Nigerian musical genius journeyed to Ghana to find a new melodic direction. It was there that he first called his music Afrobeat.

The group's 10-month stay in the United States completely changed their outlook on music. In 1969, he renamed the band Nigeria '70. Fela set up a nightclub in the Empire Hotel, first named the Afro-Spot and then the Afrika Shrine. His music created waves throughout the entire continent. His drummer, Tony Allen, played a huge role in the creation of Afrobeat. Fela pioneered a distinct sound that we often hear in African and African-influenced musical styles, and can be seen in Funk and Hip Hop.

Franco Luambo Makiadi (TPOK Jazz) (July 6 1938 - October 12 1989)
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Franco Luambo Makiadi, widely-known as the "sorcerer of the guitar", was the co-founder of TPOK Jazz, one of Africa's greatest musical bands. At the tender age of seven, the Congolese musician built his own guitar, and taught himself how to play the instrument.

By the age of 12, he made his first professional debut, playing the guitar for Paul Ebengo Dewayon's band. Although Makiadi's group was called TPOK Jazz, they became extremely popular for their electrifying blend of Cuban rumba and Congolese rhythm -- a sound that was first introduced by Wendo Kolosoy.

Luambo was highly respected for his unique ability to maximize the talent of any artist that joined his band. Throughout his 40-year career, the godfather, as many called him, released more than 150 albums and composed nearly a thousand songs. From the early '70s to the early '80s , TPOK Jazz dominated African charts. "Mario", a song Franco recorded 3 years prior to his death, remains one of his greatest hits, especially in Eastern Africa. Franco has been dubbed "the James Brown of Africa".

Emmanuel "Manu" N'Djoke Dibango (December 1933)
Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone player, Manu Dibango, is one of Africa's most influential musicians. The 80-year old artist is best known for Soul Makossa, an Afro-Soul song that became a huge hit all over the world. It is said that the song was so popular that it hugely influenced Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin".

Dibango was also a short-lived member of African Jazz, a Congolese rumba group founded by Joseph Kabasele Tshamala (Le Grand Kallé).

Nicolas Kasanda wa Mikalay (July 7 1939 - September 22 1985)
Mikalay was a composer and potentially one of the greatest guitarists in Africa. In the early '50s, he abandoned his career as a technical teacher to pursue music. He embarked on a musical career, becoming a backup singer at Opika, one of Kinshasa's earliest record labels.

Nicolas' unique style of playing the guitar earned him the nickname Dr. Nico, as well as a personal visit from American musician and songwriter, and one of the world's greatest guitarists, Jimi Hendrix.

Dr. Nico was a phenomenal guitarist who inspired a generation of musicians across the African continent.

Tabu Ley Rochereau (13 November 1937 or 1940 – 30 November 2013)
Congolese musician, Tabu Ley Rochereau, was the leader of Orchestre Afrisa International, as well as one of Africa's most influential vocalists and inventive songwriters. Tabu Ley created an innovative style of African rumba (Soukous) by fusing components of Congolese folk music with Cuban, Caribbean and Latin American rumba. The L.A Times called him “the African Elvis”.

Rochereau became a household name after teaming up with Le Grand Kallé in the pan-african hit “Indépendance Cha Cha”, which was sang for Congo's independence from Belgium in 1960. After being part of several unsuccessful groups, he formed African Fiesta National, a band that became one of the most successful bands in African history, recording African classics such as Afrika Mokili Mobimba – which sold over a million copies by 1970. The group included notable musicians such as Papa Wemba and Sam Mangwana. In the mid 80's, Tabu Ley discovered Mbilia Bel who, through his mentoring, became one the best female Soukous singers in Africa. Throughout his career, Tabu Ley composed approximately 3,000 songs and produced 250 albums.

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