Champe-Soukous Collective at Carnegie Hall Citywide - July 2023 - Mobali Na Ngai Wana (La Bollona)

Enjoy the debut international performance of this newly formed Afro-Colombian all-star group—Champe-Soukous Collective— as they perform the M'bilia Bel & Tabu Ley et L'Orchestre Afrisa International hit Mobali Na Ngai Wana (This Man of Mine) at the Carnegie Hall Citywide concert series in Manhattan's Bryant Park on July 28, 2023.

This song was a massive hit worldwide when originally released in 1987 and has been played non-stop for decades in Barranquilla and Cartagena and throughout Colombia's Atlantic Coast where it is known under the Spanish name La Bollona.

The Champe-Soukous Collective pays homage to Congo's Grand Dame of Soukous-Rumba M'bilia Bel in this song.

Interestingly, the ensemble's connection with M'bilia is deep as two of the ensemble's singers - Eka Gordom from Barranquilla and Mis Blandine Kaniki from Congo - have been backing singers for M'bilia's own ensemble for many Latin American concerts since the early 2000's. Additionally, the ensemble's lead guitarist Huit-Kilos Nseka was also the lead guitarist for L'Afrisa International and his original guitar imprint is recognized worldwide as a driving force on so many of M'bilia's most treasured and famous recordings.

Champe-Soukous Collective is creating their own CoCo Ritmo (Congo/Colombia Rhythm) genre which forges the Trans-Atlantic connection between Colombian champeta and its source music— the Congolese soukous-rumba of Central Africa's Belle Époque era.

Look out for the ensemble's debut recording in 2024 and touring dates worldwide to follow.