MOKILI NA
POCHE
The art of shaping music in Kinshasa, DRC
THE PROJECT
In January 2025 a series of instrument building workshops were organized in Kinshasa, DRC, led by members of the band Ngwaka Son Systeme to teach and inspire the youth of the Bandalungwa district. The workshops and recordings took a place at the Centre Sociale Mokili na Poche.
The documentation of this event is shared here in several media formats, to preserve and make it available to the world.
The project celebrates the creative visions of various leaders of Kinshasa's music scene. It celebrates their innovative approach to building instruments and creating music, giving the community creative merit at a local, and global level.
Scroll down and click to learn more !
AIMS
Promote the craft of DIY- instrument building and performance in Kinshasa, DRC.
Bring global visibility to one of the most unique and ground-breaking music scenes in the world.
Improve on the quality
and autonomy of the recording
studio as a social space.
Facilitate the vision of some of the most unique creative members of Kinshasa's music scene, whilst helping to create more sustainability and opportunities within the local creative community.
To document an important part of music's history in a city highly influential due to its innovative approach towards creating music.
Ngwaka Son Systeme
Centre Mokili Na Poche
THE WORKSHOP
The workshop aimed to build a bridge between young and emerging artists with established musicians in the community.
The program was split into two parts: First, a 3-day workshop where the instruments were built with the help of facilitators. Finally, participants got to perform with the instruments and record the songs at Studio Qibla
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THE CRAFT
During the workshop, young students collaborated with skilled musicians to create their own instruments, using everyday objects and recycled materials. Here's some examples of the instruments created!
Watch the process here!
Likembe Mogoya
Tsheketshe
Caisse
Batterie Endunguka
Percussion Ngonga
THE OUTPUT
After 3 days of intense workshops and 1 day of conference, the band members got together with the kids to the studio Qibla Studio where original Ngwaka songs were executed accompanied by the instruments crafted by the students themselves.
LIPATE is also accompanied by 2 remixes by Latin Club artists Phran / Entrañas, in order to bring the common roots of celebrated music styles back together and catapult them into the future
THE PEOPLE
LIPATE is a creative effort put together by at least the following individuals:
NGWAKA SON SYSTÉME
Dieu Merci Caméléon (bass)
Jonas Steroy (batteur)
Vicko Tengwa (guitar)
Bijoux Losokola (vocals, chants)
Love Lokombe (lead vocals, director)
Bebe Boomastyl (MC, vocals)
Héritier Lakala (MC, vocals)
MUSICAL YOUTH
Osé mavakala (alias Biggy)
Jonas Bajambaka (alias Lola)
Précieuse Yves Akete
Jérémie Singa
Chadrack Mado
Motuta djo delfigo
STAFF
Producer: Cedrick Tshinbalanga
Camera: Merdi Lelo
Moderator: Brigitte Maketa
Recording engineers: Junior Lutondo & Kehams Mayoyo
ECK ECHO RECORDS
Producer: Diego Hernandez
ROSKILDE FUND
Christine Semba
Andy Morgan
Nicklas Weis Damkjaer
SPECIAL THANKS
Frederick Hartmann
Edna Martinez
Miguel Buenrostro
Nicolas Jaar
Marina Zakharevitch
Web Design
Anna Fillat
Web Development
Juan Valero
Website Editing
Triana Hernandez