Nono Monzuluku

Honoré Monzuluku Mombele (1 January 1960 – 10 January 2024) known professionally as Nono Monzuluku, was a Congolese composer and musician. He made significant contributions to Congolese music, particularly through his role as an atalaku in the influential band Zaïko Langa Langa.^[1]

Nono Monzuluku
Background information
Birth name	Honoré Monzuluku Mombele
Born	(1960-01-01)January 1, 1960 Léopoldville, Belgian Congo (modern-day Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Origin	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Died	January 10, 2024(2024-01-10) (aged 64) Le Blanc-Mesnil, France
Genres	Congolese rumba
Occupations	Atalaku composer musician
Instrument	Shaker
Years active	1982–2024
Formerly of	Zaïko Langa Langa

Early life and career

Early life and musical beginnings

Mombele was born on January 1, 1960, in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), in what was then the Belgian Congo (and was later the Republic of the Congo, then Zaire, and is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). His musical journey began as a member of the folk group Bana Odéon,^[2] which included members such as Ditutala Mbuesa, Bébé Atalaku and Djerba Mandjeku (congas).^[3] However, he gained widespread recognition after joining Zaïko Langa Langa, one of the most influential bands in African music history, in August 1982, alongside his colleagues Bébé Atalaku and Djerba Mandjeku.^[3] Alongside his colleagues Bébé Atalaku and Djerba Mandjeku, Mombele played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of Zaïko.

Innovation

Nono Monzuluku Mombele made history as the first atalaku in modern Congolese music, pioneering the role alongside Bébé Atalaku.^[4] Atalakus sing during the sebene section of a Congolese rumba song, providing energetic chants often imbued with significations or morals, while playing percussions such as shakers (before 1982, small animations were performed by the vocalists of a band). Mombele and his contemporaries introduced innovative chants and percussive elements during this section, adding depth and energy to Zaïko Langa Langa's performances.^[4]

Later career

Mombele's tenure with Zaïko Langa Langa spanned over three decades, during which he participated in numerous albums and toured all around the world. Notable albums featuring Mombele include Zekete Zekete 2e Episode, Nippon Banzai, Jetez l'éponge, and Avis de Recherche. He left the band in 2008 and then settled in Paris.^[1] Nono Monzuluku embarked on a solo venture in October 2021 with the release of his first and only single, "Mosisa", a 25-minute medley containing a big part of his animations. It is the longest "générique" recorded by a Congolese artist.^[5]

Death

Nono Monzuluku died on January 10, 2024, in Le Blanc-Mesnil, France, due to previous health complications that caused hypertension. Three months later, his body was repatriated and buried in Kinshasa.^[1]

Legacy

His contributions helped boost the popularity of the atalakus within Congolese bands (leading to the apparition of other atalakus such as Djuna Mumbafu, Roberto Ekokota, Bill Clinton Kalonji...) and also throughout Africa. A notable example is DJ Arafat in Ivory Coast, who gained wide recognition as an atalaku.^[6][7]