Zaïko Langa Langa is a Congolese soukous band formed in Kinshasa, in 1969. It was established by D.V. Moanda, Henri Mongombe, Marcellin Delo and André Bita, the band evolved from the Orchestre Bel Guide National, which is seen as Zaïko's predecessor. Co-founders included Papa Wemba, Jossart N'Yoka Longo, Manuaku Waku. Led by N'Yoka Longo, they are seen as the most influential African group and have participated in the evolution and innovation of the main musical genre in Congo, the Congolese rumba. Due to several splits of the group, the Langa Langa clan was born, bringing together all the dissidents of the great Zaïko (including Viva La Musica, Isifi Lokole, Choc Stars, Langa Langa Stars, Quartier Latin). History 1968–1970: Formation From Bel Guide National to Zaïko Langa Langa A band of young musicians called Bel Guide National had been active since 1967. This orchestra included N'Yoka Longo, Manuaku Waku, Enoch Zamuangana, Teddy Sukami and Gégé Mangaya as musicians, and also D.V. Moanda as administrator. A year later, on December 23, 1969, a young man named Jules Shungu Wembadio (whose artistic name was Jules Presley), a friend of the Mangaya cousins, approached a rehearsal of Bel Guide and sang accompanied by Manuaku on guitar. Moanda, impressed by Jules' performance, then decided to dissolve Bel Guide to form a new group by keeping Wemba and some members of the team. On the next day, December 24, around 3:00 p.m, a meeting took place in the home of the Mangaya family, in 10 Avenue Popo Kabaka, where D.V. Moanda, Henri Mongombe, Marcellin Delo and André Bita formed Zaïko Langa Langa, with Jules Shungu, Manuaku Waku, Jossart N’Yoka and Teddy Sukami as co-founders. On the following days, several musicians joined the band, including Matima Mpiosso, Siméon Mavuela and Evoloko Jocker. On March 24, 1970, the Orchestre Zaïko Langa Langa played their first concert in the Bar Dancing Hawai, and later in the same year, they recorded songs for Polydor Records and other Congolese labels and released the single "Mosinzo Nganga / Pauline". The tracks were respectively composed by Teddy Sukami and Jules Presley Shungu. Jossart also released one of his first songs "La Tout Neige" in a single. Influenced by youngster band Los Nickelos, the musical style of the latter was highly remarkable in Zaïko's first songs. The group was divided into two sections, typical and pop: Jules Shungu Wembadio, Jossart N’Yoka Longo, Antoine Evoloko