Lopango Ya Banka

Lopango ya Banka (meaning "Land of the Ancestors" in Lingala) was formed in 1997 by Wabuza Lemvo. The original group was started not to do music but to ensure that the African diaspora youth in Germany were aware of their history and culture. Finding that through rap in Wabuza's first language, Lingala, young people were more attuned to hearing about the culture, traditions, and life of Kongo. So in 2003, Wabuza started rapping, using hip-hop as a powerful instrument to bring the African youth closer to their own culture and gain a greater understanding of their identity. You will find that all Lopango ya Banka's songs are in Lingala, and the videos have English, French, and German subtitles. The focus on using the Lingala language exclusively was also to promote a language that colonialism wanted to destroy. In 2008, we released the album 'Kongo Bololo'. This led to a European tour with Dead Prez, Ice Cube, and then Patrice. The group has developed over the years and sings about African Unity, self-determination, justice, and not only the struggles in Africa but also its beauty and its positive culture. With the second album on its way, and numerous video releases over the years, Lopango ya Banka, as a group of young Congolese rappers based in Germany, Belgium, and Congo, are still fighting for what they believe and using their voice as a catalyst for change both in the diaspora and at home in Kongo.