Culture & Etiquette

1. Mabina

   Dance

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   The ln.wikipedia article Mabína defines it as moving the feet and shaking the body to rhythm and music. Here it is spelled mabina without tone marks.

2. Rumba

   Rumba (Congolese rumba, music born in both Congos)

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   The ln.wikipedia article Mabína lists Rumba first among the dances of DR Congo. French sources describe a music genre that appeared in both Congos at the end of the 1930s.

3. Ndombolo

   Ndombolo (a dance that arose in Kinshasa in the mid-1990s)

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   The ln.wikipedia article Ndombolo calls it a dance of DR Congo; the dating is from French sources.

4. Kwasa-kwasa

   Kwasa-kwasa (a dance of DR Congo)

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   The ln.wikipedia article Kwasa-kwasa calls it a dance and ties it to the orchestra of Pépé Kallé.

5. Ingonza

   Ingonza (a dance of Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo)

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   The ln.wikipedia article Ingonza calls it a dance of Congo-Brazzaville.

6. Likembe

   Likembe (thumb piano)

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   The ln.wikipedia article Likembé (also ekembé) calls it an instrument made with thin wooden blades and fine strings.

7. Miziki ya Kongo

   Congolese music

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   ln.wikipedia has the phrase miziki ya Kongo, Congolese music; miziki means music.

8. Franco Luambo Makiadi

   Franco Luambo Makiadi (Congolese singer and guitarist, 1938-1989)

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   The ln.wikipedia article gives 6 July 1938 to 12 October 1989, singer and guitarist, leader of the band TPOK Jazz. Moyembi means singer.

9. Papa Wemba

   Papa Wemba (Congolese singer, 1949-2016)

   Usage

   Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

   Grammar Note

   The ln.wikipedia article gives 14 June 1949 to 24 April 2016 in Abidjan, singer and songwriter. Mokeli ya nzembo means songwriter.

10. Tabu Ley Rochereau

    Tabu Ley Rochereau (Congolese singer, 1940-2013)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article Pascal Tabu Ley gives the alias Tabu Ley Rochereau, born 13 November 1940, died 2013, singer and songwriter.

11. Koffi Olomide

    Koffi Olomide (Congolese singer, born 1956)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article gives 13 August 1956, singer and songwriter, singing in Lingala and French.

12. Fally Ipupa

    Fally Ipupa (Congolese singer, born 1977)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article gives 14 December 1977 in Kinshasa, singer, songwriter and dancer, and UNICEF ambassador.

13. Wenge Musica

    Wenge Musica (a Kinshasa band formed in 1981)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article Wenge Musica BCBG calls it a band of DR Congo formed on 17 July 1981 in Bandalungwa. Lingomba ya mindule means music group.

14. Patrice Lumumba

    Patrice Lumumba (first prime minister of DR Congo)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article says he was the first head of government from June to September 1960, born in 1925 and died on 17 January 1961.

15. Simon Kimbangu

    Simon Kimbangu (founder of the Kimbanguist church, 1887-1951)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article says he was born at Nkamba on 12 September 1887, died at Élisabethville (now Lubumbashi) on 12 October 1951, and started the Christian church called Eglise Kimbanguiste.

16. Debout Congolais

    Debout Congolais (national anthem of DR Congo)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article calls it the loyembo la lokumu (national anthem), written at independence in 1960, replaced by La Zaïroise from 1971 until 1997.

17. La Congolaise

    La Congolaise (national anthem of the Republic of the Congo)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article calls it the national anthem (loyembo-lokumu) of the Republic of the Congo, used from 1959 to 1969 and again since 1991.

18. Bonobo

    Bonobo (a great ape living in DR Congo)

    Usage

    Use it in conversation about music or history to name this person, thing or word.

    Grammar Note

    The ln.wikipedia article calls it a large primate living in Central Africa, in DR Congo.

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