Whats the reason that Nyoka Longa is the one that remained out of anyone else. He doesnt strike me as the most talented at the time when there was evoloko and papa wemba. What made it that he stood the test of time and became the face of Zaiko? Was he already somewhat the face of Zaiko back then? Is he musically inclided and knows how to play a few instruments? What is it about the guy.



He kind of remind me of Werrason. Not the most gifted as far as his voice but somehow ends up the face of a group, and then a whole movement.

I think Nyoka Longo is just a good manager, he knows how to bring the best out of people. He has good personal discipline that he's been able to infuse in Zaiko.

Zaiko was founded because of Papa Wemba's voice with Pedro Felix Manuaku (who came from the previous called Belguide which was disbanded by the founders of Zaiko after discovering Papa Wemba) and Papa Wemba(then called Jules Presley) being the first musicians with the rest being recruited some days later. Zaiko was founded by D.V. Moanda, Marcelin Delo, Henry Mongombe, Andre Bita and Olemi Eshar-Eshar. Back in the days band were mostly founded and directed by donors. Alot those bands used then to have two bands. One band which was playing American-music (Pop, Soul, R&B) and the other band typical Congolese music. Zaiko was one of those bands until 1988.


For people who don't know it, the first star of Zaiko was Nyoka Longo with his song La Blanche Neige which was a hit in 1970. But Zaiko was then not really a big band they used to copy Los Nickelos, which was a band of Congolese students based in Belgium. They feared Thu Zahina who were beside of Tabu Ley and Los Nickelos their rolmodels and the reference the young generation until Verckys Kiamangana and Franco Luambo killed the band in 1972 by signing the band to their label but not producing them and recruiting their best musicians.


In 1971 Gina Efonge joined the band and the band changed immediatly. Zaiko started to become famous with his songs and he became then the star of the band. The same year the created the Cavacha-rhythm which all drummers of took over and is played until this day. Not long after that they created inside the band a platform called Isifi (Institut du Savoir Ideologique pour la Formation des Idoles) which had Gina Efonge, Evoloko Lay, Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo and some other musicians, excluding Nyoka Longo. Because in Gina's eyes he was a "yuma" and he couldn't join them, because he came from Masina. Nyoka Longo was then mostly not singing in their songs and concerts and started then to focus on the administration of Zaiko. In 1973 Zaiko was the most popular band of Zaire and Evoloko became then the face of the band with his hits Mbeya Mbeya and Eluzam. In 1973 Gina Efonge lost his head and was replaced by Bozi Boziana. In at the end of 1974, Evoloko Lay, Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo and Bozi Boziana decided to leave Zaiko and to form Isifi Lokole with Zaiko only being left with the instrumentists and the singers Nyoka Longo and Bimi Ombale who returned in 1973 as singer (he used to be a drummer), but was like Nyoka Longo excluded. They recruited musicians and went back to the Los Nickelos-style. They formed a dangerous singing-group (Likinga Redo, Nyoka Longo, Lengi Lenga, Bimi Ombale) called Le Quartet joined by showman Mbuta Mashakado who used to be the choreographer of Evoloko and a pop-singer in Zaiko before the split. Mbuta Mashako, Nyoka Longo and Bimi were then the start of the band. Then in 1976, Gina Efonge recovered and rejoined Zaiko. In 1977 Bozi Boziana also rejoined Zaiko and it made the band stronger, the same year Gina left to form his own band Libanko after getting his fame back. In 1978 Evoloko rejoined Zaiko and from then they started to fight against Viva La Musica about being the most popular band. But Nyoka Longo didn't like him, because he felt like Evoloko came to steal his rol as being the top-star of the band, which often resulted in conflicts. Then in 1979 Manuaku Waku became the star of the band with his hits Obi and Femme n'est Pleur Pas.

The same year just before celebrating Zaiko's 10th Anniversary, Nyoka Longo and his friends fired Manuaku Waku from the band with Evoloko Lay, Bozi Boziana, Djudju-chet and many others who were making part of Zaiko. Zaiko used then to have more then 30 musicians and it was easy to split the band in 3 with them performing on three different places in Kinshasa. Manuaku then decided to start Grand Zaiko Wawa with the rest, but then Franco decided to reconcile them and they all rejoined. But the conflict between Nyoka Longo and Manuaku was so big that, Manuaku decided to leave and start his own band. The departure of Manuaku made that nobody could protect Evoloko from Nyoka Longo which made Evoloko singing barely in concerts (sometimes only 2 songs). Because Manuaku used to be the chef d'orchestre of Zaiko. So Evoloko decided to contact Verckys Kiamuangana to form his own band with Evoloko then contacting his best friend Bozi, Djo Mali and other musicians of Zaiko to form Langa Langa Stars in 1981. The split fragilized Zaiko, but they continued. Then Nyoka Longo discovered that Verckys slept with his wife which made him furious and he decided to sing the song SOS Maya (Version Original) against him. But Zaiko had a contract with Veve, so Verckys took all their instruments. With Zaiko being broke and not
 having instruments 9 months long. In 1982 they made a strong become and coming with something new which "atalaku's" would transform the Congolese music-scene for every. Like the era's (1973-1974 & 1979-1981), 1984-1988 would bring on the peak. In 1988 Zaiko split again. Familia Dei on the one side and Nkolo Mboka on the other. But everybody saw Nkolo Mboka as the true Zaiko since that Nyoka Longo was there with everybody saying "Zaiko c'est Nyoka Longo".

 Nyoka Longo himself became the president of Zaiko since 1984 after the death of the founder D.V. Moanda. Another thing which make every see Nyoka Longo as the face of Zaiko is because he was there since the start and all his mates of that time left the band (Papa Wemba, Manuaku Waku, Evoloko Lay & Mavuela Somo). Also RTNC (Tele Zaïre) lost his archives in 1993 after the lootings and alot in 1998 when the RCD-rebellion started. So nobody can see the video of the famous Kin-Show concert (1973) when Evoloko & Gina Efonge were high of weed and started to do crazy things on scene with alot partents being furious or those are videos with Evoloko being the main act. We are lucky that they released in 2004 and 1993 some rare videos of Viva La Musica and Zaiko on dvd and vhs.

@mvulusi96

In the event that he retires or becomes unable to manage the band, can Zaiko exist without him? Who could fill his shoes?

Perhaps this could encourage a new generation of bands to be birthed once Werrason, J.B. Mpiana, and others become advanced in years to keep up with the youth.

@mvulusi96

In the event that he retires or becomes unable to manage the band, can Zaiko exist without him? Who could fill his shoes?

Perhaps this could encourage a new generation of bands to be birthed once Werrason, J.B. Mpiana, and others become advanced in years to keep up with the youth.

Yes, his pire petit Doudou Adoula along veteran Gege Mangaya. Or Lola Muana with Vaugerard

Speaking of Zaiko. They’ve been touring the US for a little over a month now but I’m hearing that a few members have defected. Any truth to this? Reminds me of when Tabu Ley & L’Afrisa International toured the US over 20 years ago. Many members defected ultimately killing the band with Rochereau’s music career in shambles before eventually getting into politics.

@Tata Nkiadi

Given the current politcal climate here in the US, I'm genuinely surprised that anyone who overstay their visa ?

Speaking of Zaiko. They’ve been touring the US for a little over a month now but I’m hearing that a few members have defected. Any truth to this? Reminds me of when Tabu Ley & L’Afrisa International toured the US over 20 years ago. Many members defected ultimately killing the band with Rochereau’s music career in shambles before eventually getting into politics.

yes, the tour-promoter was very angry in an interview they made on Congopromo and said that they will be sent back to DR Congo if they find them.

@Tata Nkiadi

Given the current politcal climate here in the US, I'm genuinely surprised that anyone who overstay their visa ?

EXACTLY!! And do they even have their passports in their possession? Highly doubtful.

Yeah it's become a sh*tshow , as soon I as I get info from a friend on the situation I will report the latest on this.

As someone who helped organize US tours in the past this pisses me off - this is why artists are so reluctant to come here and are so cautious who they select. I mean it's necessary to have a "maitre" or enfant terrible watch every move the make and sleep outside their hotel room. Even worse when one of the friends or family try to get them to stay at their place... that's the kiss of death

Whats the reason that Nyoka Longa is the one that remained out of anyone else. He doesnt strike me as the most talented at the time when there was evoloko and papa wemba. What made it that he stood the test of time and became the face of Zaiko? Was he already somewhat the face of Zaiko back then? Is he musically inclided and knows how to play a few instruments? What is it about the guy.



He kind of remind me of Werrason. Not the most gifted as far as his voice but somehow ends up the face of a group, and then a whole movement.

On early records Nyoka Longo sang quite well, like in the song: le tout neige. His voice went strange by the end of the 90's.

Once in an interview he said he always tried to be loyal to the congolese musical culture. Maybe that's why he is still so famous, following a recipe that always worked.

And very likely he has pretty good connections, as I remember his wife was a daughter of Mobutu, so he had links that made it easier for him to navigate the band. But he did use this opportunity pretty well during the years I think. I appreciate more what he achieved with the band (not referring to the relations with the bandmates now) than the efforts of Awilo. Both guys are big men but for me Awilo is more a clown than a true leader.

Interestingly, Zaiko is the only big band left from the classic Zaire age bands. There are the two Wenge fractions as well, that is true, but you often hear people referring to them as: JB and Werrason. But you hardly hear people refer to Zaiko as "Nyoka Longo".  Moreover besides the leader Zaiko has some old permanent members like Doudou Adoula.

From 1975 to 2018 and the guy is still dancing on stage doing his thing. Trully a legend Nyoka is. Besides all that that is said this man is a serious manager. All his early colleagues apart from Wemba and Boziana could not make a lasting success in their careers.