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The members of Kékélé named themselves after a fibrous vine from the Congo River basin, symbolizing strength and connection. Each musician had a long, distinguished career before returning to their roots in Congolese rhumba, echoing the golden era of OK Jazz and Ry-Co Jazz. Singers Bumba Massa and Loko Massengo date back to the 1960s, while other vocalists founded the soukous group les Quatre Étoiles in the 1980s, and lead guitarist Papa Noel played alongside the legendary Franco.
Although many had performed together in various combinations in Paris, most had never recorded as a group, aside from a mid-'90s duet by Mayi and Noel. By the late '90s, the old-school rhumba style was gaining renewed interest, with albums by Mose Fan Fan and Wendo Kolosoy paving the way.
Kékélé’s formation was organic, emerging from casual jam sessions in 1999. Their debut album, Rumba Congo (2001), was produced with Ivorian veteran Ibrahim Sylla, capturing a heartfelt return to the roots of Congolese rhumba.