Passion or Profession: musician

Period: 1935–

Jean Serge Essous is a saxophonist who co-founded several influential Congolese-music bands, including TPOK Jazz in Congo-Kinshasa, African Team in Paris, and Bantou de la Capitale in Congo-Brazzaville. In 2006, he was honored as an Artist for Peace by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).