Nairobi, July 11 -- As the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated 60 years of independence just over a week ago, the country's music that has been so much a part of that post-independence history is undergoing radical shifts while embracing contemporary global influences.
The legacy of rumba, developed from the fusion of Cuban rumba and traditional African rhythms, has evolved through the generations into variations like Soukous, Kwassa Kwassa, and Ndombolo.
The foundation was established by the first generation of Congolese musicians led by Joseph 'Le Grande Kalle' Kabaselleh and later the two most influential rumba giants, the colossus Franco and T.P O. K Jazz and Tabu Ley Rochereau in the 1960s and 70s.
The music evolved in the late ...