Jupiter & Okwess – Ekoya (Airfono, 2025)
Jupiter & Okwess, veterans of Kinshasa’s vibrant music scene, return with their fourth album, Ekoya, a striking hybrid of soulful Congolese funk, rock, and soukous infused with fresh influences from Mexico and Latin America. This ambitious project explores shared histories and cultural connections between Africa and Latin America, reflecting themes of resilience, Indigenous identity, and the complexities of daily life.
Recorded in Mexico, far from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Ekoya (meaning “It Will Come”) features collaborations with Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho, Mexican Zapotec rapper Mare Advertencia, and Congolese vocalist Soyi Nsele. Across 12 tracks, performed in eight languages, the album emphasizes the band’s dual identity as both proudly Congolese and globally attuned. Camilo Lara of Mexican Institute of Sound lent his expertise as producer and recording engineer.
The album got started during Jupiter & Okwess’ 2020 tour of South America, disrupted by lockdowns that stranded the band in Mexico. Immersed in Latin American culture, they drew inspiration from the African diaspora’s legacy in the region. Frontman Jupiter Bokondji describes the connection: “Latin America didn’t change our music; it expanded it. It’s like an extension of Africa. The people there carry African roots, even Congolese roots, which are part of our story and our sound.”
Since their international breakthrough in 2013, Jupiter & Okwess have become global ambassadors of Kinshasa’s electrifying street music. The band’s journey has included collaborations with Massive Attack and Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, alongside explosive live performances across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Ekoya is both a continuation and evolution of Jupiter & Okwess’ distinctive sound. Their characteristic amalgamation of gritty Kinshasa funk-rock remains intact, enriched here by stimulating Latin rhythms and high-spirited soukous influences. Tracks transition seamlessly between reflective moments and effervescent dance celebrations, capturing a sound shaped by decades on Kinshasa’s streets and reborn through cross-continental exploration.
Buy Ekoya.
Author: Sonia Keller
