Pamelo Mounk'a

Country	Congo

Pamelo Mounk'a (1945–1996) was a Congolese singer and songwriter known for his clear tenor voice, real-life storytelling, and natural stage presence. A talented composer who early on wrote the hit "Paquita" for Joseph Kabasele's African Jazz, he made his mark with Les Bantous de la Capitale before crossing the Congo River for a brief, sharp stint with Tabu Ley Rochereau's African Fiesta in 1964. Returning to Brazzaville, he teamed up with Kosmos Moutouari to deliver lasting hits like "Masuwa" before breaking away to co-found Trio CEPAKOS. In the early 1980s, Mounk'a moved to Paris and signed with the Eddy'Son label, breaking records across the continent with massive solo hits like L'Argent Appelle L'Argent and Samantha. By mixing classic rumba lyrics with fast, driving rhythms, he kept Brazzaville going toe-to-toe with Kinshasa giants like OK Jazz, leaving a deep mark on African music history.