From Zaire (the former Congo), the Congolese rumba employs lyrics in French and Lingala with guitar riffs over constant bass drum rhythms. The use of wind instruments with the rumba betrays the influence of Cuban and Dominican music and military bands. The rumba has generated a number of sub-genres, including the soukous, which emerged in the 1960s. Lingala is an important language in Kinshasa, the capital of Zaire, but is little understood in most of the country. There are also Spanish and Cuban rumba styles.
Genre Guide 2000 · World/Folk › Africa › Central/East Africa