Folk Bands and Artists
Zong Zing All Stars
Zong Zing are a 9 piece band playing uplifting dance music called ´Cavacha´. ´Cavacha´ is the core rhythm of Central African music that has given rise to ‘Soukous’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ‘Makosa’ in Cameroon and ‘Coupez Decallez’ in the Ivory Coast.
“Bringing the London-African Underground to the Mainstream!”
Gigs and achievements 2008-2011
Lamar Tree Garden
Secret Garden Party
Lewisham People’s Day Festival
Love Box
Green Note Cafe
T.U.C. Conference
Bethnal Green Working Man’s Club
Proud Galleries for Rainforest Foundation supporting Sting
Bracknell Big Day Out
Double Club
Cecil Sharp House with Paprika Balkanicus
Stoke Fest
Barbican Free Stage
World City Festival
Shoreditch Festival
CARE International 25th Anniversary
Africa oye
And, a host of underground parties and club nights including:
Cut A Shine at The Finsbury Town Hall, Passing Clouds, Worm Food, The Hootananny, The Others, The New Empowering Church
Biography
Zong Zing is a 9 piece band playing uplifting dance music called ´Cavacha´. ´Cavacha´ is the core rhythm of Central African music that has given rise to ‘Soukous’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ‘Makosa’ in Cameroon and ‘Coupez Decallez’ in the Ivory Coast.
The band formed in late 2007 at The Magpie´s Nest Club (BBC Best Folk Club of The Year 2009), as an a cappella group, and later evolved into a full band.
The Musical Style: Cavacha
‘Cavacha’ is a highly danceable music characterised by intricate guitar picking from three guitarists, soaring vocal harmonies and driving percussion. The music reaches a crescendo during the “Seben”, with the intricate guitar picking; irresistible rhythms and sublime vocal harmonies combine to create a barely suppressed euphoria: and is arguably one of the most infectiously danceable forms of music in the world!
Their leader is master guitarist Fiston Lusambo. He and the other core member have, in the past, played with such illustrious groups as Orchestra Virunga of Samba Mapangala, Ok Jazz of Franco Makiadi, Big Musica of Defao, Matimbila of Remi Ongala and Rumba Ray de Maray of Papa Wemba. Several of the members were in Baboma which was a very successful band in the early to mid 90s here in the UK.
