Très Très Fort

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 a 17 year-old prodigy on a one-string electric lute he designed and built himself out of a tin can.

Please welcome the utterly soulful and mesmerising sound of Staff Benda Bilili.

Benda Bilili means "look beyond appearances" - literally: "put forward what is hidden"

A wonderful group of paraplegic street musicians who live around the zoo in Kinshasa, Congo, also championed by Damon Albarn.(in The Observer's selection of the best upcoming bands for 2009, UK)

These are musicians of extremely humble means who create startling warm and vital music from the barest of resources. Making their story even more poignant is that these artists are paraplegics and polio victims. It’s a compelling story for sure, but the music is superb enough to speak for itself. (Pop Matters, USA)

Staff Benda Bilili - The masters of survival, the sound of the ghetto… The musicianship is subtle and precise, forged by the group's extraordinary work ethic, and their sound has a raw simplicity and uniqueness. (The Independent, UK)

An extraordinary release with an equally extraordinary backstory (The Wire, UK)

It was a perfect moment, symbolising the purpose of the Africa Express trip to the Congo: some of the most celebrated musicians in Africa and the West playing with members of Staff Benda Bilili, a group formed by homeless and disabled polio victims living in the grounds of Kinshasa Zoo. It was unrehearsed, teetered on the edge of disaster, yet inspirational. (…) The band swayed in time in their antiquated wheelchairs, while a couple of kids danced around. It was achingly lovely music, created out of the most terrible adversity. ‘That was beautiful,’ said [Massive Attack's] Robert del Naja at the end, visibly moved. ‘It was worth coming all this way just to hear that’. (The Independent, UK)

(The makeshift instrument) designed by young Roger Landu is particularly amazing. Made with a simple powder milk tin, a stick and a metal wire, plugged to a pedal and an amp, it generates a riotous guitar-like sound that would make Jimi Hendrix turn pale. (Volume/Les Inrockuptibles, France)

Staff Benda Bilili - Très Très Fort (CRAW 51CD)

CD Album

1.		Staff Benda Bilili - Moto Moindo
2.		Staff Benda Bilili - Polio
3.		Staff Benda Bilili - Je t'aime
4.		Staff Benda Bilili - Sala Keba
5.		Staff Benda Bilili - Moziki
6.		Staff Benda Bilili - Sala Mosala
7.		Staff Benda Bilili - Avramandole
8.		Staff Benda Bilili - Tonkara
9.		Staff Benda Bilili - Marguerite
10.		Staff Benda Bilili - Staff Benda Bilili
11.		Staff Benda Bilili - Mwana

Staff Benda Bilili - Très Très Fort (CRAW 51)

Download Album

1.		Staff Benda Bilili - Moto Moindo	5m 48s
2.		Staff Benda Bilili - Polio	3m 8s
3.		Staff Benda Bilili - Je t'aime	5m 1s
4.		Staff Benda Bilili - Sala Keba	4m 26s
5.		Staff Benda Bilili - Moziki	4m 56s
6.		Staff Benda Bilili - Sala Mosala	6m 14s
7.		Staff Benda Bilili - Avramandole	3m 9s
8.		Staff Benda Bilili - Tonkara	6m 33s
9.		Staff Benda Bilili - Marguerite	6m 45s
10.		Staff Benda Bilili - Staff Benda Bilili	5m 54s
11.		Staff Benda Bilili - Mwana	6m 52s

We now have mp3 samples available for you lovely folk! Click the play button next to each track title to listen to its preview.

If you do not already have a mp3 player, visit the FAQ page for player tips.