Staff Benda Bilili

Mbongwana Star: breaking out of Kinshasa

On their brilliant debut album From Kinshasa, two former members of Staff Benda Bilili have teamed up with Irish producer Liam Farrell to create a heady mix of frantic rhythms, psychedelia and weaving soukous guitar lines that rip up any preconceptions of Congolese music

Tim Jonze

18, Jun, 2015 @5:36 PM

Mbongwana Star: From Kinshasa review – thrillingly wrong-footing Congolese music | Alexis Petridis

The western producer of this bustling new project from former members of Staff Benda Bilili eschews the respectful approach to African music – and it’s all the better for it

Alexis Petridis

14, May, 2015 @2:00 PM

Staff Benda Bilili review – slicker and more attacking than ever

Back with a new lineup, this extraordinary Kinshasa band were on impressive form, writes Robin Denselow

Robin Denselow

22, Jul, 2014 @1:18 PM

Staff Benda Bilili: where did it all go so wrong?

The Congolese band went from sleeping rough on the streets of Kinshasa to global fame – then imploded. Andy Morgan tells a story of cultural misunderstanding that ended in bitter financial acrimony

Andy Morgan

15, Feb, 2013 @7:30 AM

BT River of Music, Africa and Americas stages – review

Often, the music was as remarkable as the site was inappropriate, despite too many collaborations, writes Robin Denselow

Robin Denselow

23, Jul, 2012 @5:03 PM

Staff Benda Bilili top the bill at pre-Olympics free festival

Ricky Likabu leads Congolese band of disabled musicians and former street children on Africa Stage of BT River of Music

Robin Denselow

20, Jul, 2012 @2:38 PM

He is #1: Malawi Mouse Boys – review

Gentle charm oozes from this African vocal troupe, writes Neil Spencer

Neil Spencer

19, May, 2012 @11:03 PM

Film Weekly podcast: Benda Bilili! and Adam Deacon

We meet the producers of a documentary about a band of Congolese buskers and the star and director of Anuvahood

Presented by Jason Solomons and produced by Lucy Greenwell

17, Mar, 2011 @3:14 PM

From street to screen: the story of Staff Benda Bilili

Staff Benda Bilili's remarkable story is coming to UK cinemas. Robin Denselow talks to the men who made it all happen.

Robin Denselow

24, Feb, 2011 @10:00 PM

African music the actual African diaspora likes

What is Britain's African disapora listening to? Surprise: it's not what we call world music. Jane Cornwell finds out what gets the expats jumping

Jane Cornwell

09, Sep, 2010 @9:49 PM