Awilo Longomba

Louis Albert William Longomba (born May 5, 1962), known professionally as Awilo Longomba, is a Congolese soukous singer, composer, drummer, songwriter, dancer, and producer. The second child of Vicky Longomba and maternal uncle of French player Claude Makélélé, Longomba is known for his avant-garde "techno-soukous" and performances.

Between 1980 and 1995, he made his music debut as a drummer for Viva La Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Génération, and Loketo. He rose to fame in 1995 with the release of his debut solo studio album Moto Pamba, which catapulted him to stardom in Africa and Europe. The album's success won him two consecutive Best Artist of Central Africa at the 1996 and 1997 Kora Awards. In 1998, he released his second studio album Coupé Bibamba. The album's eponymous lead single, featuring Jocelyne Béroard, topped charts in Africa, Europe, and the Americas for consecutive weeks and is venerable as Africa's most serenaded Lingala songs. He became the first artist to sold-out the Lagos Stadium for three consecutive days. The song was later featured in the "World Tribute to the Funk" compilation by Sony Music, featuring a new funk remix version with James D-Train Williams. The remix became a summer hit and was later translated into Nigerian local languages and performed in churches. The song also gained popularity in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and Malawi, and had a significant impact on the local culture.

Longomba is the first Congolese artist to have performed in São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as the only Sub-Saharan African, along with Miriam Makeba, to have performed in Libya. His third studio album Kafou Kafou, released in July 2000, later won him the Judges' Special Awards at the 2001 Kora Awards for his contribution to African music. In September 2003, Longomba released his fourth studio album, Mondongo. In August 2008, he released his fifth studio album, Superman. Longomba is also one of Africa and Europe's "most wanted" Congolese artists.