There was always music along the banks of the Congo River -- lutes and drums, the myriad instruments handed down from ancestors. But when Joseph Kabsele and his African Jazz went chop for chop with O.K. Jazz and Bantous de la Capitale, music in Africa would never be the same. A sultry rumba washed in relentless waves across new nations springing up below the Sahara. The Western press would dub the sound Soukous or rumba rock; most of Africa called it Congo music.

Born in Kinshasa and Brazzaville at the end of World War II, Congo music matured as Africans fought to consolidate their hard-won independence. In addition to great musicians -- Franco, Essous, Abeti, Tabu Ley, and youth bands like Zaiko Langa Langa -- the cast of characters includes the conniving King Leopold, the martyred Partrice Lumumba, corrupt dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, military strongman Denis Sassou Nguesso, heavyweight boxing champs George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, along with a Belgian baron and a clutch of enterprising Greek expatriates who pioneered the Congolese recording industry.

Rumba on the River portrays an era when the currents of tradition and modernization collided along the banks of the Congo Rivers. It is the story of twin capitals engulfed in political struggle and the vibrant new music that flowered amidst the ferment.

“The first really comprehensive account of the development of an African pop style.” – Times Literary Supplement

“For fans and scholars alike, it is a godsend to have so much of this history packed into a single, well-indexed volume.” – Boston Phoenix

“Stewart shows a knack for elegant simplicity as he spins anecdote-steeped studies of noteworthy African performers.” – Billboard on Breakout

“[Stewart’s] love and understanding of Congolese music is strikingly evident throughout this book. Few can match his encyclopedic knowledge.” – International Journal of African Historical Studies

Gary Stewart is a writer who has lived and worked in Africa. His articles on African and Caribbean music have appeared in numerous publications including The Beat, Option, and West Africa. He is the author of Breakout: Profiles in African Rhythm.

 Publication
Cloth: March 2000
Pbk: Jan. 2004

436 pages
67 b/w photos

Cloth
1 85984 744 7
US$35 / £25 / CAN$54

Paper
1 85984 368 9
US$19 / £13 / CAN$29