Evoloko Jocker

Evoloko Atshuamo, best known as Evoloko Jocker (sometimes spelled Joker)[1] or Lay Lay, is a popular congolese soukous singer.[2][3] Since the late 1960s, he has been in several major soukous bands, such as Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi Lokole, and Langa Langa Stars.[4][5]

Biography

Evoloko was born in Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). He began his career in Zaiko Langa Langa, one of the biggest Congolese soukous bands, in 1969. His talent was so enthusiastically acclaimed by the public that he quickly became the front man and band leader. Along with other musicians together with Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo, Gina Efonge, they created cavacha, a sound and dance style that became a trademark of Zaiko and a craze in East Africa in the 1970s. He wrote the best song of the year in 1973 (Onassis Ya Zaire) and again in 1974 (Eluzam). The huge success of these two songs and the cavacha dance established Zaiko langa langa as the top band for young people in the country. It is safe to say that Evoloko is the recording artist who put Zaiko on the map. He was the best and most prolific song writer in the band, the lead singer, the best dancer. He was the guy who was drawing the crowd, who was electrifying the audience at the band's performances. He was the first recording artist of his generation to reach the superstardom in the country. In 1974 at the top of his career, he left Zaiko and went to form Isifi Lokole with Papa Wemba and Mavuela Somo. The band also included Bozi Boziana, who was another popular soukous star. Mavuela Somo, Evoloko and Papa Wemba eventually argued with each other and Papa Wemba left Isifi Lokole to found his own band Yoka Lokole. Evoloko renamed his band Isifi Melodia. For a while, Isifi Melodia struggled to become a top soukous band.

Evoloko later returned to Zaiko, but left again in 1981. He started the band Langa Langa Stars with the financial assistance of Kiamuangana Verckys. The band included several ex-Zaiko Langa Langa and Viva La Musica musicians such as Bozi Boziana and Dindo Yogo. Langa Langa Stars were also very popular, as was their mbiri mbiri dance. They disbanded in 1984. Evoloko recruited new musicians and got some success in 1984 - 1986 with his band. He relocated to Europe around 1989. After Langa Langa Stars, Evoloko kept playing either in solo projects or with other short-lived groups, such as Langa Langa Rénové (2008). He also occasionally collaborated with his original band, Zaiko Langa Langa.[6]

Partial discography

With Zaiko Langa Langa
  • Onassis Ya Zaire
  • Eluzam
  • Mbeya Mbeya
  • Fievre Mondo

With Langa Langa Stars
  • Requiem
  • Monama'
  • Kalolo
  • Done' Done''
  • La belle de Bangui'
  • Soleil
  • Mingalina B 52

With Langa Langa Stars Renove'
  • Mbonge Mbonge
  • Samedi Soir'

Footnotes
  1. Spellings "Jocker" and "Joker" are both represented in record covers, the former being way more common.
  2. Broughton, Simon; Ellingham, Mark; Trillo, Richard (1999-11-25). World music: the rough guide. Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Rough Guides. pp. 469–. ISBN 978-1-85828-635-8. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  3. Graham, Ronnie (1992-01-01). The world of African music. Pluto Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-7453-0657-5. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  4. Ewens, Graeme (1992-03-01). Africa o-ye!: a celebration of African music. Da Capo Press. pp. 144–. ISBN 978-0-306-80461-8. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  5. Larkin, Colin (October 1995). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Threepenny Opera-Z.Z. Top. Guinness Pub. p. 4614. ISBN 978-1-56159-176-3. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  6. (in French) Evoloko Jocker s’annonce sur le terrain des concerts acoustiques
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