‘THE CONGO MEETS CUBA IN AN EXUBERANT EXPLOSION OF MUSIC’

Grupo Lokito create a modern-day cocktail of two of the great world musics; Fusing blistering contemporary Congolese grooves with the fire of Cuban music. The results have audiences dancing in a haze of energy.

The glorious melodious vocals of Congolese front men Eugene Makuta and Iddo Donnatella blends with soaring guitars courtesy of Congolese guitar hero Mbokalia ‘Burkina Faso’, and the lilting keyboards of Latin piano player Sara. All of this sits on top of the rhythmic powerhouse team of Ernesto (drums), Emeris (congas), Elpidio (bass) and Shyam (rhythm guitar).

Since their formation in 2006 the band have gone from strength to strength, completing several UK tours and building a solid following.
In May 2020 Grupo Lokito were awarded an Arts Council grant to make music during lockdown and the band released three tunes on digital platforms: Yoka!, ¡Lo Que Pasó! and BolingoYa Londres. Some more exciting new sounds are cooking in preparation for a vinyl release later this year.

Previous releases include “Esengo Ya Ko Bina” (The Joy of Dancing) capturing the vibrancy and spirit of their stage show, Latin Beat on Putumayo (Aug 30 2011), Urban Africa on Cavendish Music (2010) and “The Rough Guide to African Street Party “on the World Music Network (2008).

“The whole show was invigorating, blessed. It’s one thing to play 'a lo Cubano', and another to blast an adoring audience with a Stratocaster string of chromatic serotonin, as does Lokito's legendary Burkina Faso. But it's a very different thing to combine the two without it sounding like a self-conscious mish-mash. Lokito manage the combination to perfection.”
John Armstrong, review of London African Music Festival, September 2019

“Grass roots music played with gusto. Live entertainment at its best”
Chilli Fiesta, August 2019

“This is the 3rd time we have booked Grupo Lokito and the professionalism and the performance were world class.”
Focus Africa 8th Anniversary Show, December 2018