Mbongwana Star Are Taking the Club to the Congo

When you think of forward thinking dance music, the sort that sounds like Matias Aguayo, Ibibio Soundsystem and Golden Teacher having a party together, you don't necessarily think of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mbongwana Star, from System D, a notorious district of Kinshasa want to change that.

Formed from the ashes of legendary world act Staff Benda Bililli, Mbongwana Star are changing what it means to be a musician in Africa, fusing traditional Congolese rhythms with post punk, and electronics recycled and inspired by life in the slums. You might not know a huge amount about them now, but we reckon that's going to change over the summer once you've basked in the glow of the group's gloriously chaotic debut album From Kinshasa.

Like the weird Congo Astronaut that haunts the video, Mbongwana Star is a naturally occurring, smashed-together combination of things both unexpected and somehow inevitable. It's made from bits of the past, points toward a strange but exciting kind of future, but more importantly you can tell that it's just loving the present.

From Kinshasa is released on World Circuit on May 18th

1) From Kinshasa to the Moon
2) Shégué
3) Nganshé
4) Masobélé
5) Coco Blues
6) Malukayi (feat. Konono N°1)
7) Suzanna
8) Kimpala Pala
9) Kala
10) 1 Million c'est quoi?

Pre-order the record here

Mbongwana Star play London's Cafe Oto on June 2nd