Passion or Profession: Singer

Period: 1956–

Koffi Olomide was raised in Kinshasa and educated in Switzerland and France. A performer of Congolese soukous (a fusion of traditional African and modern influences), Olomide frst began working with the legendary Congolese bands Zaiko Langa Langa and Viva la Musica. He recorded his first solo work in 1983 and three years later formed his own band, Quartier Latin. By the 1990s, Olomide was receiving international attention and was being dubbed Congo’s biggest musical star.