Bozi Boziana

Mbenzu Ngamboni Boskill, better known as Bozi Boziana (born in 1952), is congolese guitarist and singer. He has been in several major soukous bands, including Bamboula de Papa Noel, Minzoto Sangela, Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi Lokole, Yoka Lokole, Langa Langa Stars and Choc Stars, and founded his own band, Orchestre Anti-Choc, which is considered among the most influential of the genre.

Bozi Boziana began his career in the afro-pop band Air Marine, but he reached success in 1974 when he joined Zaiko Langa Langa, one of the most influential congolese bands ever. In Zaiko Boziana had the chance to play with soukous stars Papa Wemba and Evoloko Jocker. Less than one year later, Papa Wemba and Evoloko left Zaiko Langa Langa and Bozi Boziana followed them in a new band called Isifi Lokole. Internal disagreements then caused Papa Wemba, Boziana, Mavuela Somo and others to leave Isifi Lokole and found a new band that was called Yoka Lokole. This group was quite successful in 1976, but by the end of the year Papa Wemba left again to found Viva la Musica. Yoka Lokole lost popularity and Boziana left in 1977. For a few month Boziana was in a duo with Efonge Gina, another member of Zaiko Langa Langa, recording a few hits such as Selemani (credited to Boziana) and Libanko Ya Ngai (Gina). In June 1977, Gina left Zaiko Langa Langa for Tout-Grand Libanko and Boziana took his place in his former band.

In 1981 producer Verckys Kiamuangana founded a soukous supergroup called Langa Langa Stars, with Evoloko Jocker, Dindo Yogo and others; Boziana was invited to join in and he did, leaving Zaiko Langa Langa for the secondo time. Langa Langa Stars lasted only a few years, and Boziana then moved to another major congolese band, Ben Nyamabo's Choc Stars, where he stayed until novembre 1985. With Choc Stars Boziana recorded some of his most famous songs ever, such as Sandu Kotti, Alena, Mbuta-Mutu, and Retrouvailles a Paris.

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