Archos, how do you know that he played on Robinho's generique??

because he said it somewhere,cant remember where with the millions of congolese "sites" these days but he said he played deplick's generique,robinho's,cappucino's and foreign artists are wanting him to participate to their albums

He said that he played on Deplick's generique on Rdcongoinfos with Mathy Kasongo.

Here is an anecdote for you. There was a Viva La Musica concert in Paris (early 90’s) where three big Drummers had to perform that night with the band. There were Djudju Chet, Awilo Longomba and Richacha. The Drummer who came early for the sound check was Richacha. The second guy to show up was Djudju Chet...he joined Richacha on stage to have a look at the drum set. Once he saw what Richacha did to the kit, he said in lingala: “Drum penza ezalaka boye...oyo e bimisaka suka na son”. Translation:”A drum kit set up this way makes a very good sound”.  Richacha did not say anything.

Djudju Chet asked him:”are you the one who set up this kit?”. 

Richacha said:”Yes, it’s me”.

Djudju said:”No, it’s not you”.

Richacha:”Never mind...I know I’m the one who did this. It’s your problem if you don’t want to believe me”. 

For me my preferred drummers are Djudju Chet because his discography and his basically played drums in every generations albums/songs and Titina because he uses each drum set equipment which many after don't not really do so and obviously Meridjo who is one of the pioneers in drumming creating sebene, there are many other drummers are talented in congo and brazzaville as well I won't waste time typing. Djodjo B who are your favourites

It is very difficult to single out particular instrumentalists because most of them are very good based on the criteria set above but I must give credit to Titina Alcapone, Simolo Katondi and Ramatoulaye, these are fully versatile and can play rhumba or sebene or even other genres perfectly, I like these three because they utilise all the drum pieces effectively,i think Champion Esthetique and Tche Tche De Balle can be added to the list of the top 5 that are very active today otherwise there are many others out there.

People who know me (virtually) know that Richacha is my favorite. He is the only Drummer form Congo from 1900 to 2014 who performed in many different styles of music with well known Artists (Neg’ Marrons’, The Wailers, Alpha Blondy, Barrington Levy, Papa Wemba, etc.). Some Drummers can be good or look good, but when trying to do another style of music, they get lost. Richacha plays any drum kit you offer and mixes electronic and acoustic drums when needed to produce all the sounds from the CD. Nowadays he is recognized being the best Reggae Drummer in France.

Alpha Blondy needed a Drummer urgently in 2003 for only one concert. They got in touch with Richacha. He did not really know what Richacha was capable of doing. At the end of the first concert, Alpha said to him: ”Based on what I saw and heard during the concert, you cannot be a substitute...I’ll keep you!”.  He toured with the band for three years and played the album “Jah Victory” in 2007 along with Sly Dunbar (Drummer from Jamaica). In 2007, the Wailers took him again for a European tour. Richacha is on another level. I don’t see a Drummer from Congo who realized what Richacha has realized as a Drummer. It's not easy to go for another style of music,  be one of the best and earn the respect from big artists.

I also like Manu Katche from France. That guy is amazing.

Indeed, Richacha is one of the greatest but most people have forgotten about his Viva roots because his focus is now reggae however he remains versatile and one of the best just like Awilo is still one of the best, I have a dvd of Awilo in a double concert somewhere in Europe and in the USA, it's not an old concert, Awilo played drums on a couple of songs.

For the Wenge generation, I have respect for Titina because he did not copy everything older Drummers have done....he is also versatile. But all the Wenge Drummers who came after Titina, do everything like him (Esthétique from QL is also among them). They are not creative; none of them impresses me. If Titina still plays drums, please tell him to stop wasting time with Congolese Singers. They have no respect for musicians. I would be happy to see him in a career elsewhere like Richacha.

For the Wenge generation, I have respect for Titina because he did not copy everything older Drummers have done....he is also versatile. But all the Wenge Drummers who came after Titina, do everything like him (Esthétique from QL is also among them). They are not creative; none of them impresses me. If Titina still plays drums, please tell him to stop wasting time with Congolese Singers. They have no respect for musicians. I would be happy to see him in a career elsewhere like Richacha.

True. Titina has his own band now and does more singing than drumming not forgetting session work with other musicians, I think he's featured on the upcoming album by Wenge BCBG youngster Abraham Mignon.

Sometimes I keep forgetting Awilo was a drummer  just look at his face you really think he looks like a drummer lol but yes what he did in Japan with 1986 Viva was excellent, Djodjo b I understand what you mean with the wenge generation but check out Kakol how quite different to titina, he has much more of drum rolling style

Sometimes I keep forgetting Awilo was a drummer  just look at his face you really think he looks like a drummer lol but yes what he did in Japan with 1986 Viva was excellent, Djodjo b I understand what you mean with the wenge generation but check out Kakol how quite different to titina, he has much more of drum rolling style

Yeah, Titina as well, when he sings you wouldn't tell he's a drummer.

Newside, why are you mentioning Papy Kakol here, there's a criteria that has been set, Kakol knows his snare drum and can hit it like no mans business when it's sebene style but I guess he needs lessons from Extra Musica's Ramatoulaye a more versatile drummer and even more powerful on the snare drum.

For the Wenge generation, I have respect for Titina because he did not copy everything older Drummers have done....he is also versatile. But all the Wenge Drummers who came after Titina, do everything like him (Esthétique from QL is also among them). They are not creative; none of them impresses me. If Titina still plays drums, please tell him to stop wasting time with Congolese Singers. They have no respect for musicians. I would be happy to see him in a career elsewhere like Richacha.

True. Titina has his own band now and does more singing than drumming not forgetting session work with other musicians, I think he's featured on the upcoming album by Wenge BCBG youngster Abraham Mignon.

This is good. He should keep working and think about his own career. I hope he is registered to booking agencies based in Paris.

Sometimes I keep forgetting Awilo was a drummer  just look at his face you really think he looks like a drummer lol

You're funny  . Since you said that, I see him as a comedian now.

Have you noticed that most of the Drummers from Congo are from the Equateur province?

Off course Sly Kakol for me is not in the list with the top dogs but I still must mention his drumming style his different especially with snare it this moment apart from the couple decale drumming his drumming style is dominant and different compared to Titina and the older legends that's I'm mentioning him but yes Kakol for me is two-dimensional good but not a great yet maybe in the future

Have you noticed that most of the Drummers from Congo are from the Equateur province?

indeed,good remark,and they sometimes insert some mungala/mongo folk beat in their play