His status as a star is justified by his unique artistic talent, the success of his songs and his position as the leader of Zaiko Langa Langa, the Kinshasa group considered to be the "Third School" of modern zairean music. In Zaire this music is known as "Rumba Congolaise" but in the West it has rather confusingly been mis-named "The Soukous".

This modem Concolese music of which the star N'Yoka Longo is one of the finest jewels, is derived from Congolese music whose pioneers are identified by the name of "Tango ya Ba Wendo" and which was born in the 1940 in the urban circles of what is today known as Zaire.



The musical career of N'Yoka Longo M'Vula Known also as Jossart started in Kinshasa on the 24th Decembre 1969. This was the date of the foundation of Zaiko Langa Langa by a student from Belgium Henri Mongombe, a youngster of Kinshasa D.V. Moanda and Marcelin Bita. The other founders of the group were the artist N'Yoka Longo ( the sole survivor of l'orchestre Bel Guide, considered to be the ancestors of Zaiko Langa Langa ), the guitarist Felix Manuaku Waku Known in times past as Pépé Fely ( He rehearsed occasionally with Bel Guide ) and the singer Papa Wemba ( he came from another group Stukas where he rehearsed with the singer Lita Bembo).

The singer N'Yoka Longo has to this day remained faithful to Zaiko Langa Langa.



Intelligent and well educated, the other attributes of his personality are his humour, patience, tenacity, humility and solidarity. He studied at collège Boboto ( The ancient Collège Albert ler ) in the exclusive borough of Gombe in the capital of Zaire. It is one of the best schools in the african continent.



The artistic routes chosen by N'Yoka Longo are generally met with success. In 1974, he contributed to Zaiko's triumph during the festival organized to accompany the fight of the century (Tthe Rumble in the Jungle) between the heavy weights Mohanied Ali and Georges Foreman. Michael Jackson and his brothers, Diana Ross, B.B. King, James Brown, Johnny Pocheco... also took part in this event.



In 1977, he was selected to play for the "National Orchestra" representing his country at Festac 77 ( Black Arts International Festival of Lagos 1977 ). The young N'Yoka Longo was a big hit at "Square Tafawa Balewa" with his songs "Nalali Pongi" and "Amando". N'Yoka Longo rapidly became one of the international stars of zairean nunba and released more than 50 songs and made more than 100 tours abroad.



He sings predominantly in Lingala and sometimes in Kikongo, Swahili, French and English. He is quite accustomed to being at the top of the charts.

His sources of inspiration are social values, history and the rural and urban culture of Zaire, plus the human condition in society.