Kongo

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1984–1989

Genres

ska, brazilian ska

Instruments

guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, saxophone, vocals

Biography

Formed in Rio de Janeiro in the mid-1980s, Kongo emerged as a pioneering ska band in Brazil's burgeoning music scene. The group's initial lineup featured Nelson on guitar and vocals, Tommy on vocals and guitar, Karen on bass, Fleki on drums, and Mariko on keyboards. After honing their skills with numerous cover songs, Kongo began to develop their own compositions, gaining confidence through consistent rehearsals and performances. Their early shows took place at the Colégio Corcovado, a school within the German community.

By late 1984, with some German members returning to their homeland, Nelson recruited new musicians, including a saxophone section, to reshape the band's sound. This new configuration, with Nelson and Edinho on guitars and vocals, Niltinho and Marília on saxophones, Karen on bass, and Arnaldo on drums, led to a significant milestone. In 1987, Kongo signed with EMI-Odeon and released the EP "King Kongo," which featured BomBom on bass. The mini-LP achieved considerable commercial success, selling 17,000 copies.

Despite the EP's positive sales, Kongo's contract with EMI-Odeon was not renewed, prompting the band to transition to the independent circuit. In 1989, the original iteration of Kongo disbanded. Nelson and Niltinho continued their musical collaboration under the name Jack Beboon, while Edinho established himself as a respected DJ in Rio de Janeiro. The band later reunited in 1998 with a revised lineup, releasing two more albums independently and through Radiola Records.