Faustin Mangituka Ntaminimo (born 7 July 1962), known professionally as Bébé Atalaku, is a Congolese songwriter and musician whose work with Nono Monzuluku has significantly shaped Congolese music, mainly through his role as an atalaku in

Zaïko Langa Langa Zaïko Langa Langa, also known as Zaïko Langa Langa Nkolo Mboka, is a Congolese Congolese rumba, rumba band formed in Kinshasa, in December 1969. Established by D. V. Moanda, D.V. Moanda, Henri Mongombe, Marcellin Delo and André Bita, the band ...

Life

Faustin Mangituka Ntaminimo was born on 7 July 1962 in Léopoldville (now

Kinshasa Kinshasa (; ; ), formerly named Léopoldville from 1881–1966 (), is the Capital city, capital and Cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-grow ...

), in what was then the

Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo), is a country located on the western coast of Central ...

(later known as

Zaire Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire, was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 18 May 1997. Located in Central Africa, it was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria, and the 11th-la ...

, now the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

), to a family of Humbu ethnicity. His older brother is Ditutala Mbuesa. Both siblings were members of the folkloric group Bana Odéon, which was based in the Kintambo commune and included Nono Monzuluku and percussionist Djerba Manzeku. In August 1982, Bébé became part of

alongside his colleague Djerba Manzeku. His entry into the band initiated the introduction of the atalaku role in the

Congolese rumba Congolese rumba, also known as African rumba, is a dance music genre originating from the Republic of the Congo (formerly French Congo) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). With its rhythms, melodies, and lyrics, Congolese ru ...

section called sebene, a role he pioneered with Nono Monzuluku, who had joined Zaïko Langa Langa shortly before him. Atalaku, performers who sing and shout during dance segments in sebene to inspire and energize audience to dance, gained immense popularity across Africa, with nearly every band incorporating atalaku in their music. Bébé toured Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia as part of Zaïko Langa Langa and contributed to several of the band's well-known albums, including ''Nippon Banzai'' (1986), ''Pusa Kuna… Serrez! Serrez!'' (1986), and ''Subissez les Conséquences'' (1987). He departed Zaïko Langa Langa in 1988 after one of the band's splits to join the offshoot Zaïko Langa Langa Familia Dei, where he performed until 1995.

References

Musicians from Kinshasa 1962 births 21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo male singers 20th-century Democratic Republic of the Congo male singers Soukous musicians Living people {{DRCongo-musician-stub