Félix Manuaku Waku
Encyclopedia
Félix Manuaku Waku, also known as Pépé Fely (or Felly) is a soukous
guitarist
from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has been described as the foremost Congolese solo guitarist of his generation, and is credited with establishing the guitar as the lead instrument
in contemporary Congolese music.
A graduate of the Kinshasa
Academie des Beaux Artes, he was one of the founders of the popular Congolese musical group Zaiko Langa Langa
, and his rapid guitar-playing style was a distinctive feature of the group's music. In Zaiko Langa Langa he attracted critical praise for his ability to play continuously without a break, and earned the sobriquet "the hardest left hand in Zaire". He was noted also for his mastery of the sebene
technique.
He left Zaiko Langa Langa in 1979 to found another group, the award winning Grand Zaiko Wawa, which in turn cultivated a new generation of prominent Congolese musicians.
Manuaku Waku now lives in Lausanne
, Switzerland
, where he has formed a new group named African Mambo.
Soukous
Soukous is a dance music genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has been described as the foremost Congolese solo guitarist of his generation, and is credited with establishing the guitar as the lead instrument
Lead instrument
Lead instrument is the name given to someone who is the most advanced player of their instrument in their ensemble. This is also referred to as the first chair, principal, first position, or first ....
in contemporary Congolese music.
A graduate of the Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
Academie des Beaux Artes, he was one of the founders of the popular Congolese musical group Zaiko Langa Langa
Zaiko Langa Langa
Zaiko Langa Langa are a seminal soukous band from DR Congo. The word "Zaiko" is a portmanteau for the lingala phrase Zaire ya bankoko, meaning "Zaire of our ancestors", where "Zaire" must be read as a reference to the river by that name, now called Congo...
, and his rapid guitar-playing style was a distinctive feature of the group's music. In Zaiko Langa Langa he attracted critical praise for his ability to play continuously without a break, and earned the sobriquet "the hardest left hand in Zaire". He was noted also for his mastery of the sebene
Sebene
The Sebene is a kind of instrumental bridge typically executed on the electric guitar and is a characteristic element of the Congolese rumba. The development of the sebene in congolese music has been credited to both Franco Luambo and Belgian-born guitarist-producer Bill Alexandre, but it predates...
technique.
He left Zaiko Langa Langa in 1979 to found another group, the award winning Grand Zaiko Wawa, which in turn cultivated a new generation of prominent Congolese musicians.
Manuaku Waku now lives in Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where he has formed a new group named African Mambo.