In the 60's the OK jazz had a classic jazz and rumba sound reflecting that decade, but from the 70's their sound changed, and sounded more like big band. I guess it was due to Zaiko and the new wave. Or not? What were the first songs featuring that change? I remember as if Franco returned with the song: Azda after his break. But There is a contemporary hit: Dje Melasi with new guitar sounds, I wonder if that one came earlier? Could you tell a bit more about those years?

I might be wrong but I think the "Recours à l'authenticité" policy by Mobutu had, at least partially, something to do it.

Mobutu wanted the music to be purely congolese, so musicians had to kick out foreign influence. So a lot of bands change their sound and starting to rely more on folk as a source of inspiration.

In the 60's the OK jazz had a classic jazz and rumba sound reflecting that decade, but from the 70's their sound changed, and sounded more like big band. I guess it was due to Zaiko and the new wave. Or not? What were the first songs featuring that change? I remember as if Franco returned with the song: Azda after his break. But There is a contemporary hit: Dje Melasi with new guitar sounds, I wonder if that one came earlier? Could you tell a bit more about those years?

It was due to Tabu Ley's succes at Olympia that made TPOK Jazz change their direction. Franco then went also to incorporate drums like Tabu Ley did and then tried once to perform with 2 bassplayers and 2 drummers on stage. To counter to fight Tabu Ley better and Zaiko's succes later, he adopted fiesta style and recruited singers who came from that school singers like Sam Mangwana, Ntesa Dalienst, etc.