Belle Kinoise Prod (formerly Label Kinoise) has been working with artists and musicians in Kinshasa since 2003. Producing bands, organizing concerts, shooting movies, recording albums... Kinshasa was once the musical capital of Africa, but after years of civil war and political madness, the country is in ruin. Yet the music keeps on rolling. Kinshasa "the city of sound" is the true fuel for Belle Kinoise's works. Besides its movie projects, B.K keeps on seeking new musical talents in the ghetto in order to gather a powerful line-up of local professionnal bands.
In the face of a collapsing occidental music industry, the challenge for Belle Kinoise is to create new ways of giving its artists opportunities to be heard and seen.
in 2009 Belle Kinoise will settle down in Kinshasa to become a full time local cultural platform.
BK's artists are: Jupiter & Okwess International, Staff Benda Bilili, Bawutakin, Bebson de la Rue, Loi-X, Kimono, Rin-K, Ngotshima & the jawbreakers, Gekingo... It's an evergrowing community.
The infamous song "Life in Kinshasa is like playing ping-pong against King-Kong over the towers of Hong-Kong" played acappella with a special featuring by Roger Landu and his amazing "Satongé".
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BELLE KINOISE MOVIES
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2009
Staff Benda Bilili are like nothing you have ever seen or heard before. A group of paraplegic street musicians who live in and around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, Congo, they make music of astonishing power and beauty. The band's mesmerising rumba-rooted grooves, overlaid with vibrant vocals, remind you at times of Cuban nonchalance, at other times of the Godfather of Soul himself. You can hear echoes of old-school rhythm and blues, then reggae, then no-holds barred funk. Four senior singer/guitarists sitting on spectacularly customized tricycles, occasionally dancing on the floor of the stage, arms raised in joyful supplication, are the core of the band, backed by a younger, all-acoustic, rhythm section pounding out tight beats. Over the top of this are weird, infectious guitar-like solos performed by young Roger Landu, (an ex-street kid the band took under their wing), who plays a one-string electric lute he designed and built himself out of a tin can.
The lyrics of the Staff Benda Bilili are wise, ironical advice to the people who live in the streets. In Lingala, "Benda Billi" means "look beyond appearances".
Entitled "Très Très Fort" ('Very Very Strong'... or 'Very Very Loud'), their first album was produced by Vincent Kenis (already responsible for introducing and producing Konono N°1, Kasaï Allstars and the Congotronics series). The songs were recorded out in the open, mainly in the zoological garden near centre ville. The album will be released in Feb/March 2009.
The physical version of the album contains video bonuses directed by Belle Kinoise aka Florent de la Tullaye and Renaud Barret, who discovered the band while they were filming their "Jupiter's Dance" documentary in Kinshasa. Florent and Renaud have been documenting the story of the band since 2004, and are working on a feature-length film devoted to the life of Staff Benda Bilili, from the sidewalks of Kinshasa to their (upcoming) first concerts in Europe.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Official selection, Berlin Festival 2008. A vivid portrait of a bunch of outstanding women, who choose to box to get ahead in an African capital in the great turmoil of the first democratic elections.
Summer 2006 in Kinshasa. Martini, Jeannette, Hélène and Rosette spar everyday with Coach Judex in the old stadium Tata Rafael, where in 1974 Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the most mythical match in the history of boxing. At dawn, thousands of people from the ghetto come to train here and political parties rally. In parallel to the fight for the Presidency of Congo (DRC), Judex struggles to organise a women's boxing
tournament with little money... Kinshasa sings, Kinshasa starves and Judex’s girls manage to survive, with no illusion still full of hope. A film about women in a country where men have become crazy. A film overflowing with energy, life and humour in a place where death and misery roam.
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2007
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxJUPITER'S DANCE
A film by Renaud Barret & Florent de la Tullaye
Produced by LABEL KINOISE.
The ghettos of Kinshasa —the devastated capital of a country politically and economically adrift— are filled with many gifted, yet impoverished musicians. Their outstanding talent, humour and vital energy are their only means of survival.
Amongst them, Jupiter, the charismatic leader of the band "Okwess International", acts as our narrator and guide. This local Don Quixote introduces us to the Kinshasa music scene —teenage rappers, handicapped bluesmen, street children, griots and guitar craftsmen— and describes his 20-year struggle to bring his music out of the ghetto.
Coming soon april 2007. DVD (104mn)+CD(11 tracks). watch the trailer at www.myspace.com/okwessinternational
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"TRACKS"_ Arte 2006.
Bonjour et merci d'avoir accepté notre invitation,
Nous avons ouvert sur notre page le concours AFRO PÉPITES. Ouvert du 1 juillet au 31 décembre. Le 1er concours chercheur de pépites Africaines. Venez vite découvrir qu'est-ce qu'une AFRO PÉPITE sur notre site …
AFRO PEPITES SHOW : Du 15 au 31 déc 09, concours dédiés à tous les artistes de tous les continents autour d’un seul thème la culture Africaine ! Venez participer !
Les nouvelles de l'AFRO PEPITES SHOW : - Venez voter pour nos finalistes au concours de Musique d’AFRIQUE du SAHARA, du 11 no au 1er dec, sur le blog : http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=228693288&blogId=518063560 - Le concours Musique d’Afrique Centrale est ouvert du 1er au 15 novembre : Musiciens, partagez avec nos internautes votre meilleure composition. Voir comment participer sur notre page. - Dès l5 novembre, c’est le concours Musique d’Afrique de l’Est qui s’ouvre. - Découvrez les participants au concours de Musique d’Afrique CENTRALE : http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=228693288&blogId=517096606
Hey ! Un jour viendra peut-être où les forces de la nature protègeront les visionnaires et défenseurs de l'humanité. Petit hommage à Thomas Sankara, l'homme intègre... Viens écouter SANKARA et donnes ta pensée...Kiembé red épi a ondot soley ! Véro.
BONJOUR Merci pour votre amitié myspace et c'est un grand plaisir de découvrir votre page après notre rencontre aux EUROCKS pour le concert fabuleux de STAFF BENDA BILILI, vivement votre documentaire nous sommes une émission radio en musique africaine latine et antillaise sur BESANCON venez voir notre programmation à venir fin aout et septembre très musique congolaise bonne écoute à très bientot
Objet : KOTAZO FEVER bientot dans les bacs!!!!!!!!!
KINBIZZ présente "KOTAZO FEVER" la saga décalé. Trés prochainement vous recevrez dans les bacs de tous les bon disquaire un virus nommé "KOTAZO FEVER" en provenance du CONGO kinshasa et brazza! Aprés la "GRIPPE AVIAIRE" ainsi que le virus "AH1N1" voila le plus chaud des virus sous forme de COMPILATION mixé par un celebre chimiste. ATTENTION OU VOUS METTEZ LES PIEDS,LA CONTAMINATION EST POUR BIENTOT. contact: KIN-BIZZNESS@HOTMAIL.FR TEL:0625617348
Staff Benda Bilili are #1 in the World Music Charts Europe Staff Benda Bilili's debut album "Très Très Fort" has reached the No 1 position in the World Music Charts Europe, which are compiled for the European Broadcasting Union on the basis of airplay by world music DJs in 23 European countries.
Each time of holy celebration is a reminder for our heart to never forget the infinity of life. Like a simple flower, it can be fragile, if we don't take care about. Sharing love with others when misunderstandings are in is the best medicine to allow life possibility to heal our souls. After all, who are we here ? Just a moment of transition..till perfection HAPPY EASTER to you Belle Kinoise Prod
Staff Benda Bilili are like nothing you have ever seen or heard before. A group of paraplegic street musicians who live in and around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, Congo, they make music of astonishing power and beauty. The band's mesmerising rumba-rooted grooves, overlaid with vibrant vocals, remind you at times of Cuban nonchalance, at other times of the Godfather of Soul himself. You can hear echoes of old-school rhythm and blues, then reggae, then no-holds barred funk. Four senior singer/guitarists sitting on spectacularly customized tricycles, occasionally dancing on the floor of the stage, arms raised in joyful supplication, are the core of the band, backed by a younger, all-acoustic, rhythm section pounding out tight beats. Over the top of this are weird, infectious guitar-like solos performed by young Roger Landu, (an ex-street kid the band took under their wing), who plays a one-string electric lute he designed and built himself out of a tin can.
The lyrics of the Staff Benda Bilili are wise, ironical advice to the people who live in the streets. In Lingala, "Benda Billi" means "look beyond appearances".
Entitled "Très Très Fort" ('Very Very Strong'... or 'Very Very Loud'), their first album was produced by Vincent Kenis (already responsible for introducing and producing Konono N°1, Kasaï Allstars and the Congotronics series). The songs were recorded out in the open, mainly in the zoological garden near centre ville. The album will be released in Feb/March 2009.
The physical version of the album contains video bonuses directed by Belle Kinoise aka Florent de la Tullaye and Renaud Barret, who discovered the band while they were filming their "Jupiter's Dance" documentary in Kinshasa. Florent and Renaud have been documenting the story of the band since 2004, and are working on a feature-length film devoted to the life of Staff Benda Bilili, from the sidewalks of Kinshasa to their (upcoming) first concerts in Europe.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxJUPITER'S DANCE
A film by Renaud Barret & Florent de la Tullaye
Produced by LABEL KINOISE.
The ghettos of Kinshasa —the devastated capital of a country politically and economically adrift— are filled with many gifted, yet impoverished musicians. Their outstanding talent, humour and vital energy are their only means of survival.
Amongst them, Jupiter, the charismatic leader of the band "Okwess International", acts as our narrator and guide. This local Don Quixote introduces us to the Kinshasa music scene —teenage rappers, handicapped bluesmen, street children, griots and guitar craftsmen— and describes his 20-year struggle to bring his music out of the ghetto.
Coming soon april 2007. DVD (104mn)+CD(11 tracks). watch the trailer at www.myspace.com/okwessinternational
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
"TRACKS"_ Arte 2006.
