Already responsible for issuing a prodigious catalogue of captivating Congolese popular music, among them hidden gems from Franco & OK Jazz, Docteur Nico, Orchestre Rock-a-Mambo and more, Planet Ilunga marks a decade of essential existence with their most ambitious project yet. Released on October 4, The Soul of Congo – Treasures of the Ngoma Label (1948-1963) constitutes an exhaustively-documented, expertly-curated anthology brimming with rambunctious rumbas and contagious merengue by singers and players who descended on the Congolese capital of Léopoldville from all over Central Africa, as the country began to emerge from its colonial subjugation to become a swirling cultural hub, alive with African rhythms and the European, Caribbean and Cuban tunes popular in the big city.

Musicians such as Manuel d’Oliveira, Antoine Kolosoy ‘Wendo’, Léon Bukasa, Martha Badibala and Antoine Mundanda (pictured above) found their home on the flourishing Ngoma roster, the extraordinary imprint (one of Congo’s big five, alongside Opika, Loningisa, Esengo and Olympia) founded by the Greek Nicolas Jéronimidas in 1948 to showcase the energy, variety and spirit of an era. During its existence, from 1948 until 1971, Ngoma made over 4,500 recordings, in the process creating a crucial cultural legacy filtered through the sounds of guitar aces like Manoka De Saïo or Papa Noel, and enticingly-named ensembles such as Jazz Mango, Jazz Venus, Dynamic Jazz, Orchestre Novelty and Rumbanella Bande – all of which feature on this dazzlingly comprehensive compendium. Props go to Planet Ilunga, and compiler Alastair M Johnston, for making these spellbinding and indispensable sides available again.

The Soul of Congo – Treasures of the Ngoma Label (1948-1963) will be issued via Planet Ilunga on both 3LP and 3CD formats on October 4, and will be reviewed in the Jan/Feb 2024 issue of Songlines