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Canonical path: /israel-ndongala-matelo
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Israel Ndongala Matelo
Israel Ndongala Matelo was born in 1965 in Mbuji-Mayi, in what's now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He started singing and dancing early, drawing from the...
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Curated by Ethan Walker
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Israel Ndongala Matelo was born in 1965 in Mbuji-Mayi, in what's now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He started singing and dancing early, drawing from the traditional rhythms and Congolese rumba around him. In the mid-1980s, he joined Tabu Ley Rochereau's Orchestre Afrisa International, where his voice stood out and he became a soloist. His first album, 'Simba,' came out in 1989.
His big moment arrived in 1992 with 'Aleluia.' The song's melody and his vocals connected with people immediately, making it a staple in Congolese music. It's still one of his best-known tracks, alongside 'Amor É Alguém' and 'Vanité.' He kept recording after that, putting out albums like 'Le Grand Prêtre' in 1995 and 'Le Grand Maître' in 2000.
In the early 2000s, there was some legal trouble over copyright for 'Aleluia,' which he worked through. He released another album, 'Identité,' in 2005. His music, rooted in those early influences, has stayed in the mix without needing much fanfare.
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