“Afro-futuristic Congolese punk collective rooted in rumba music but influenced by the experimental, EDM-inspired Nyege Nyege Tapes scene.” (Pitchfork)

The Congolese collective Fulu Miziki (DRC) have ‘only’ two EPs to their name (Ngbaka, 2022, and Mokano, 2024), but their live performances have quickly built them a reputation. No wonder, then, that Gilles Peterson invited them to his prestigious festival We Out Here earlier this year, alongside class acts such as Michael Kiwanuka, Kokoroko and Noname.

They previously conquered Couleur Café, eliciting praise from Pitchfork, who described their sound as “rooted in the celebratory rumba music of their hometown but influenced by the experimental, EDM-inspired Nyege Nyege Tapes scene thriving in Uganda.” 

The Quietus acknowledged their place in the illustrious musical history of Kinshasa among acts such as performance artists Ndaku Ya La Vie Est Belle and the techno-punk group KOKOKO!, referring specifically to Fulu Miziki as “one of the most intriguing of all these projects.”

Though their music is digitally processed, they are still “as ramshackle and scrappy as ever,” according to Pitchfork. It’s in the name, which can be roughly translated from Lingala as ‘music from garbage’.

You can explore their world here: Get to Know Congolese Collective Fulu Miziki | OkayAfrica