On June 30th, 1960, the entire population of the Congo, and in particular its capital Lépoldville, danced “the independence cha-cha”. But menacing clouds would soon darken the Congolese skies. Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba would come to pay the price for his actions. His name remains forged in people’s memories, and in the songs that tell his tragic story.

In our last episode, PAM visited a post-war Congo-Leopoldville (currently DRC), at a time when new sounds and ideas began to form. These would, in time, lead the country to independence, on June 30th, 1960. Naturally, music played a key role.

In the first episode of our series dedicated to the soundtrack of independence from Congo (DRC), PAM reflects on the influence of Afro-Cuban music that the first great Congolese orchestras began to imitate, before they broke free to create their own sound: “Congolese rumba”.

Starring Ray Lema, Papa Wemba, Kanda Bongo Man, Zao and Loketo… via the Congo river that runs through Paris too.

PAM is pleased to present the third episode of the Paris c’est l’Afrique series by Philippe Conrath (1989) via our YouTube channel. A nosedive into Mandingo culture, its griots and its rebels. We meet this […]

With Congolese and Argentinian roots, Juanita Euka, became a regular guest at London’s Latin and Afrobeat parties. Her first single, “Alma Seca”, which is part of the Killing Eve series soundtrack, has just been released […]

The label No Format! announces the release of an exclusive album by Oumou Sangaré, called “Acoustic”. It was recorded under live conditions where the purity of her voice and that of the instruments shine through. The album will be released on June 19th.

The Nigerian drummer and Fela’s travelling soulmate with whom he invented Afrobeat, passed away on April, 30th in Paris. PAM revisits the journey of the drumming genius, and his immediately recognizable sound signature which forged […]