Awilo Longomba

Louis Albert William Longomba^[2][3][4][5] (born May 5, 1962), known professionally as Awilo Longomba, is a Congolese soukous singer, composer, drummer, songwriter, dancer, and producer.^[6][7][8] The third son of Vicky Longomba and maternal uncle of French player Claude Makélélé, William is known for his avant-garde "techno-soukous"^{[9][10][11][7]} and performances.^{[5][12][13][14]}

Between 1980 and 1995, William made his music debut as a drummer for Viva La Musica, Stukas, Loketo, Nouvelle Génération.^{[15][6][16][17]} He rose to fame in 1995 with the release of his debut solo studio album Moto Pamba, which catapulted him to stardom in Africa and Europe.^{[18][6][19][20]} Moto Pamba won him two consecutive Best Artist of Central Africa at the 1996 and 1997 Kora Awards.^[21] In 1998, William unveiled his second studio album, Coupé Bibamba. The album's eponymous single, which featured Martinican singer Jocelyne Béroard, became a chart-topper in Africa and gained a considerable following in Europe and America. It is often often regarded as one of Africa's most acclaimed Lingala songs.^{[21][10][22][23][24]} William became the first artist to sold-out the Lagos National Stadium for three consecutive days.^[25] The song was later featured in the "World Tribute to the Funk" compilation by Sony Music, featuring a new funk remix version with James D-Train Williams.^[6][26]

William is the first Congolese artist to have performed in São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as the only Sub-Saharan African, along with Miriam Makeba, to have performed in Libya during the creation of the African Union.^[26][27][28] His third studio album Kafou Kafou, debuted in July 2000, later won him the Judges' Special Awards at the 2001 Kora Awards for his contribution to African music.^[7][15] In 2009, William clinched the accolade of Best Soukous Entertainer at the IRAWMA Awards.^[29] In September 2003, he issued his fourth studio album, Mondongo.^[30] In August 2008, he published his fifth studio album, Superman.^[31] William is one of Africa and Europe's "most wanted" Congolese artists.^[32][6][33]