In a photograph posted on his Facebook page to celebrate his 66th anniversary, the Republic of Congo's sensational musician looked frail, forlorn, and pale. His once vibrant smile, which depicted a man full of life, had since been reduced to one of misery. He was evidently sickly. Throat cancer had drained the life out of the Loketo supremo, who rocked the continent’s music scene in the early 1990s with electrifying stage performances in concerts.
Congolese rumba has constantly been in a state of evolution. The slow-paced and heavily spiced Fiesta and Odemba styles, which prominently featured the saxophone, clarinet, trumpets, accordion, maracas, and more, passed the baton to Cavacha, which emphasized the sebene and ultimately gave birth to Soukous.
This high-tempo subgenre, thought to have borrowed heavily from West African highlife, eliminated extra guitars (such as the mi-solo or second solo), removed the saxophone and the entire horn section, and did away with additional elements like maracas. Instead, it focused on the three core guitars—solo, rhythm, and bass—while retaining percussion and drum sets.
What was the end product? Music designed more for live performances in concerts than for home listening. This shift coincided with a mass exodus of Congolese musicians to Europe, where the music was tailored for a global audience. Two bands at the epicenter of the Soukous revolution: Soukouss Stars and Loketo. Loketo was created in 1986 by Aurlus Mabélé and his friends—solo guitarist Diblo Dibala, singer Jean Baron, and drummer Mark Macaire.
With the advent of Paris as the new musical capital for the genre, the Congolese music scene became highly fluid. Traditional bands started fading away, replaced by the concept of session musicians. Among the pool of musicians in Paris, several groups emerged, mostly for recording purposes. One of these was formed by the exceptionally talented guitarist Diblo Dibala, who had previously auditioned for OK Jazz. Seeking to create a band, he found the perfect companion in Aurlus, who possessed a melodious baritone voice and was a master showman. Together, they brought in other musicians.
The band released a few albums, but it wasn’t until 1990 that they unveiled their magnum opus, Embargo. The album sold like hotcakes across the continent. In East Africa, it sparked a craze. It wasn’t just an album—it introduced a dance style that swept across the region. Aurlus, as the face of the band, became a household name. During that era, every household owned a radio cassette player, and a Loketo cassette was a must-have.
Children in villages hummed the songs. Embargo, the group's most successful album, was released after Diblo had left to form his own band, Matchatcha. The new lead soloist was yet another Soukous maestro, Dally Kimoko.
The album featured six songs: "Embargo," "Asta-Di," "Mawa," "Betty," "Liste-Rouge," and "Un Seul Dieu."
The vocalists were Aurlus Mabélé, Jean Baron, Marie Celine Chrone, and Lucien Bokilo. The rhythm guitarists were Geo Bilongo and Blandin Wabacha, while the bass guitar was played by Remy Sahlomon. Mark Macaire handled the drums.
Aurlus, born Aurélien Miatsonama on October 24, 1953, was a member of Les Ndimbola Lokole in the mid-1970s before relocating to Paris and forming Loketo. He also had a series of solo albums that performed remarkably well. Later, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and was admitted to several hospitals in Paris while seeking treatment. COVID-19 aggravated his condition, and he passed away on March 19, 2020.
He left behind an unmatched legacy. His singing, dancing, and composing prowess remain the envy of many musicians. In his death, the continent lost a towering musical baobab.
By Jerome Ogola
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