Kiazi Malonga on ‘Kongo Lema’: Preserving Congolese musical traditions and honoring the past [Interview]

With Kongo Lema, meaning “The Kongo Shines,” musician, composer, and Ngoma drummer Kiazi Malonga joins forces with legendary percussionist Hyacinte Massamba to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of traditional Congolese music.

Arriving December 12, 2026, through Redtone Records, the album is the result of a shared commitment to documenting musical traditions, honoring the communities that sustain them, and ensuring that…