Born in the Prison District of Kinshasa, trained in the Kongo tradition and by veterans of the Bakolo Music International, disciples of the great Wendo Kolosoy, father of Congolese rumba, Jocelyn Balu created Balu & Borumba and is now emerging as his heir. His melodies, his realistic and surreal songs, and his explosive style are a reflection of the many facets of the vibrant city of Congo, where music is both an urgent need and a way of life.
Jocelyn Balu is part of RFI Talent
While remaining faithful to the pioneers of the 1940s and 1970s, he enthusiastically revisits the golden age of Rumba Kongo by playing with musical genres, from traditional Rumba to Afrobeat, Afro Jazz and Rumba Rock.
Rumba becomes a UNESCO intanglible heritage in 2021.
Frank Tenaille, Author of « Le Swing du caméléon, musiques africaines 1950-2000″ Ed Actes Sud
“Rumba flows in his veins like Primus in the maquis of Kinshasa. His melodies, his realistic and surrealistic songs, his high-spirited style, all reflect the facets of a vibrant city on the shores of the Congo, where music is both an emergency and a way of life. The spiritual son of the great Papa Bikunda Nzoku Moko Buélé, the ‘last baobab’ of the Bakolo Music group. Heir of the great Wendo Kolosoy, who etched his first hit, ‘Marie Louise’, in wax in 1948, Jocelyn Balu is surprisingly faithful to this sensual, seductive ‘cavacha’ rumba, which, after being the soundtrack of independence, has continued to set the world grooving.”
«Borumba», 1st album of Balu: An inherited Congolese rumba – The full Article in french on RFI
“A former member of the Bakolo Music International group, where he learned from the veterans, Jocelyn Balu sets himself apart from the current dominant styles of Congolese rumba on his debut album “Borumba”, recorded with his band of musicians from the south of France.”
Bertrand Lavaine
The album has entered the Transglobal world music chart at number 16
TTT Very Good. Read the full article in french on Télérama
“Borumba, Jocelyn Balu’s debut solo album, is a delightful collection of vintage rumba. A former member of the legendary Bakolo Music International, the Congolese singer pays a heartfelt tribute to the genre’s veterans, whilst asserting his own personality as a high-energy entertainer.”
Anne Berthod
“It seems that rumba runs in the veins of our guest of the week just as Primus beer flows over the zinc counters of Kinshasa’s maquis. Join him and his friends on a journey through the vibrant atmosphere of Kinshasa from the 1940s to the 1970s, the golden age of Congolese rumba.”
ALBUM 2025 TBA
EUROPE TOUR // Available all year
WORLWIDE BOOKING
Workshop - Singing Masterclass
JOCELYN BALU - Lead vocals, Guitar
DAMIEN HILAIRE - Drums, Choir
BENJAMIN ETUR - Bass, Choir
DAMIEN BIANCIOTTO - Guitar, Choir
PAULO MAYINDU - Percussions, Choir
ORPHÉE BROULARD - Front sound engineer
