N'Yoka Longo

N'Yoka Longo Mvula, also known as Jossart, alias Vieux Mbombas, is a DR Congo soukous singer, historical member and current leader of the popular soukous band Zaiko Langa Langa. He is originally from Angola. One of Africa's most prolific live band performers, N'Yoka Longo has toured several countries in Africa, America, and Europe.

He began his career in a big band known as Bel Guide National. On December 24, 1969, in Kinshasa, he founded Zaiko Langa Langa together with Papa Wemba and a group of fellow Bel Guide National members, including Henri Mongombe, D. V. Moanda, Marcelin Bita, and Félix Manuaku Waku. Despite the longevity of Zaiko Langa Langa and their uncountable personnel changes, N'Yoka Longo never left, and he is currently the leader and main songwriter of the band.

In 1977, Longo was chosen to perform with Zaire's National Orchestra at FESTAC in Lagos; this was a significant thrust to his popularity, that has been steadily growing since then. He has written major Zaiko Langa Langa hits, including "Nalala Pongi" and "Amando", and played in over 100 international concert tours.

N'yoka Longo has been reproached of leading Zaiko in a totalitarian, rigorous manners that has been the reason of many departures of prominent members from the group and many major splits of Zaiko.

A distinctive feature of N'Yoka Longo is that, as a polyglot, he sings in several languages, including Kikongo, Swahili, French, and English.

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