Kolinga

New album at the end of 2026
(Underdog Records)
 

Kolinga is energy. Kolinga means “to love” in Lingala, or “to connect” when the emphasis is on the “i.” This enveloping, inclusive, and all-encompassing energy connects people and worlds, taking us to the depths of our souls, where we remember that we are one. Led by musician, author, composer, and singer Rébecca M'Boungou, Kolinga tells stories that have been forgotten or silenced for too long, those of women and ancestors who still knew how to listen to the wisdom that the cycles of nature and life constantly whisper to us.

In 2014, initially as a duo, Kolinga made a name for themselves opening for Bonga, Mayra Andrade, Maceo Parker, and Gaël Faye, who added his writing and flow to one track and music video: “Kongo” quickly reached a million views on YouTube and now has over 14 million streams on Spotify.

In 2017, Kolinga released her first album, Earthquake. The songs deal with the earthquakes that occur in life. The lyrics, written in English and French, sometimes translated into Lingala (one of the languages of Congo), sing of the crises and upheavals of life. Legacy, her second album, will be released in September 2022.

In a clever mix of contemporary music, jazz, and Bantu music, Rébecca's committed writing brings feminist, child rights, environmental, and decolonial struggles to the forefront without ever detaching them from the intimate. The magic happens when the groove makes hearts vibrate and bodies dance. Brilliantly surrounded by generous and sensitive people and musicians, Jérôme Martineau Ricotti on drums, Jérémie Poirier Quinot on flute, keyboard, and vocals, Johary Rakotondramasy on bass, Joël Riffard on guitar, and Vianney Desplantes on flugabone, euphonium, and vocals, they offer a transcendental experience on stage for anyone willing to dive in completely.