Staff Benda Bilili

Staff Benda Bilili Are A Group Of Congolese Street Musicians. They Live Around The Grounds Of The Zoo In Kinshasa And Play Music Which Is Rooted In Rumba With Elements Of Old-School Rhythm'n'blues And Reggae. The Core Of The Band Consists Of Four Senior Singers/guitarist Who Are All Disabled They Suffered From Poliomyelitis When They Were Young And Move Around In Spectacularly Customized Tricycles. They Are Backed By A Younger Rhythm Section Consisting Of Ex-Sheges Abandoned Street Kids Who Were Taken Under The Protection Of The Older Members Of The Band. The Soloist Is An 18 Year-Old Boy Who Plays Astounding Electric Guitar-Like Solos On A One-Stringed Lute He Designed And Built Himself Out Of A Tin Can. Staff Benda Bilili Have Earned The 2009 Artist Award At Womex World Music Expo . Staff Benda Bilili Were Featured In The Documentary Film "Jupiter's Dance" By Renaud Barret And Florent De La Tullaye Aka Belle Kinoise Who Have Been Documenting The Band's Progress Since 2005. They Shot Several Videos Which Have Become Quite Popular On The Internet. Barret And De La Tullaye Are Preparing A Feature-Length Documentary On The Band. read less