Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2019 – Oyo Projects gather a group of street based children and youth, the Atelier Kamikazi, and together with the artist Lova Lova they record the album «Mokili na poche».
Bernard Morisson, Delta Force, Franc congolais, Dix balle, Ozé, Banque du sang et Banque mondiale are between 10 and 20 years old.
With « Mokili Na Poche » (The World in the Pocket), they talk in a funny and provocative tone about the difficulties encountered in their daily lives, about rivalry, politics, sexuality, and survival. The rhythms are inspired by the urban culture of Kinshasa, marked by the childrens’ sound inventions and carried by Lova Lova’s musical frame made out of electro-congorock, afropunk, ragga, and hip hop. This allowed the kids to spit their warlike rap, street gang style, but also to pray and bless, carried by a specific sharp undertone of rage and hope. These kids know they are fucked – and they fuck back.
Since 2016, Wilfried Luzele aka Lova Lova has been moving around the alternative cultural scene of Kinshasa as a musician and performer. His musical style is diverse, encompassing electro-rock, sometimes punk, ragga and hip hop, and is often inspired by traditional Congolese music. His lyrics describe city life in Kinshasa with humour and intensity. Sometimes his words leave reality and fly into fantasy worlds and crazy landscapes.
Oyo projects was founded in 2015 by Mukenge/Schellhammer with the aim of supporting children and young people in street situations by engaging them in artistic activities.
In a critical approach to the aid sector in developing countries, the project reinforces informal learning. Instead of imposing Western concepts and solutions, the project wants to create a space for experimentation and exchange to explore new strategies.
EP produced by Seismographic Records
Seismographic Records is a label for global hybrid music, run by Martin Georgi and supported by fluctuating images. «Seismo» deals with connections of local and international sounds, of cultures and epochs far apart. It wants to break through the boundaries of Western music history and focus on the unheard.
More information: https://acudmachtneu.de/events/1838/laboratoire-kontempo-miziki/