KONGO DIA NTOTILA

Kongo Dia Ntotila play KONGO JAZZ: a fusion of African roots-inspired beats and bass grooves with jazzy guitars and soul-rousing synergistic brass.

Kongo Dia Ntotila’s sound is a blend of Africa’s finest dance music styles, revived and modernised. They draw on a breadth of African rhythmic and sonic traditions, with influences of Congolese rumba and the sunshine sounds of seben guitar, seamlessly fused with a neat dose of jazz. It is pure Afro-joy: dance-inducing beats, polyrhythmic guitars, grooving bass and soaring brass.

The band comprises three UK jazz players on guitar, saxophone and trumpet; with drummer, bass player, and rhythm guitarist from Kinshasa, DRC. They have been described by Tom Robinson as “totally authentic - as good as anything you get coming out of Africa,” while Max Reinhardt has called band leader Mulele, “a visionary bassist”.

Kongo Dia Ntotila have featured heavily on BBC stations including World Service, Radio 3, and BBC Radio London, as well as online stations across the globe from Worldwide fm in Hong Kong to college radio stations in the US. Their performance on the BBC Introducing stage at Latitude Festival in 2018 led to a live session for The Tom Robinson Show on BBC 6 Music. Their live Soho Radio session recording direct to vinyl made the Best of #JägerSoho Vinyl Sessions in 2019. That year their album 360° was well received by the press and DJs alike with MOJO magazine calling it "a euphoric joy” and Songlines, "an all around incredible album”. 360° also featured on Bandcamp’s 'New & Notable' and 'Week's Essential Releases' series, and had tracks on official Spotify editorial playlists and The Guardian’s month’s best music.

Their latest offering is an extended EP of live tracks from a packed London show at The Jago, Dalston. Half A Live Set presents all new material that will feature on the next studio album.

"Incredible musicianship.”
Cerys Matthews, BBC 6 Music

"...a raucously joyful party."
Max Reinhardt

"...pure life-affirming spiritual uplift!”
Tom Robinson

"...one hell of a triumphant noise ... it will enrich your life”
Roland Monger, Listen With Monger

"Kongo Dia Ntotila have honed their thing to an audience-thrilling precision; this is music custom-built for outdoor shows in the sunshine.”
Joseph Neff, The Vinyl District

"“Wow...must be one of the tightest live bands in this country!”
Max Reinhardt