Les Bantous de la Capitale (1976)

A challenging return home and a subsequent software update issue have delayed my posting a few days, so to celebrate my cyber-return I offer a superb album from this influential and pioneering Congolese band. Les Bantous de la Capitale, led by Jean Serge Essous and Nino Malapet, played a pivotal role in transforming Cuban rumba into rumba Lingala. This record has two Cuban songs on it, proving that the transformation was not yet complete in 1976.

This album was posted previously on the inimitable Global Groove site, but I think I was lucky in finding a much cleaner pressing of the disc, and so offer it with respect.

Enjoy!