Kaoma

Origin

Porto Seguro, BA

Years Active

1989–2017

Genres

lambada, world music, pop, dance

Instruments

guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, flute, vocals

Biography

Kaoma was a French-Brazilian musical group created in 1989 that successfully introduced the lambada music style to Europe. The band was formed after music producer Jean Karakos and his friend Olivier Lorsac traveled to Trancoso, in Bahia, Brazil, where they witnessed the local lambada craze and recognized a lucrative international opportunity. Featuring lead vocalist Loalwa Braz and keyboardist Jean-Claude Bonaventure, the group achieved massive global success with their vibrant rhythms and dance tracks before experiencing various line-up changes and tragedies over the decades.

Following the release of albums like Tribal Pursuit, the group navigated the passing of key producer Jean-Claude Bonaventure and the departure of vocalists such as Fania Niang. Loalwa Braz remained the defining voice of the band until 1999, when the group initially separated. Although an attempted comeback occurred in 2015 featuring new vocalists like Leon and Veruska Mônaco, the tragic death of Loalwa Braz in 2017 marked a poignant chapter in the band's history, while members like Jacques Arconte and Roger Dru continued their musical journeys.

The group is best remembered for bridging Brazilian rhythms with international pop appeal, heavily influencing global dance culture alongside contemporary artists. Through their high-energy performances, iconic dancers like Washington Chico Oliveira, and infectious melodies, Kaoma left an indelible mark on the crossover of Latin and European musical landscapes.

Discography

• Worldbeat (1989)
• Jambé Fineté (1989)
• Valeu (1989)
• Lambada - Les originaux No. 1 de l'été (Original 1989) (1989)
• THE "LAMBADA" BY THE WORLDBEAT GROUP KAOMA (Original Lambada Kaoma) (1989)
• World Mix (1990)
• Tribal-pursuit (1991)
• A La Media Noche (1998)
• Banto (1999)