In October, the world marked 30 years since the death of Africa’s most famous singer, Franco Luambo Makiadi. That is a coveted position for any living Kenyan artiste. Franco’s fame went beyond his ...

Every facet of the life of the late Congolese and African music icon Luambo Makiadi, aka Franco, will be in the spotlight of special content on BBC Swahili marking the 20th anniversary of the artist's ...

If you frequent entertainment spots or love rhumba, you might have noticed that this weekend is playing more music by the late Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi. What many might not know is the rhumba and ...

It is 20 years since Le Grand Maître Luambo Makiadi Franco, passed on. Since then we have danced to a cross-fertilised brand churned by Tabu Ley Rochereau, the high-tech Rumba of Koffi Olomide and a ...

Celebrations and commemorations are taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere on the continent today as people remember the life of Franco Luambo Makiadi. To play this content ...

Yves Emongo was very clear. No one, he told this writer, can wear the OK Jazz brand better than Franco did. The son of L’Okanga La Ndju Pene Luambo Makiadi, better known simply as Franco, was trying ...

I’ll always have plenty of reasons to be grateful for the friendship of Jenny Graf Sheppard, a sound artist best known around these parts for her roles in Metalux and Bride of No No, but today I feel ...

During his 35 year recording career, the Congolese guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader Franco released several hundred singles and around 150 albums. Where does the anthologist begin, and ...

Nairobi — Thousands of Rhumba fans get together today to pay tribute to one of Africa's most illustrious musicians, Franco Luambo Luambo Makiadi (aka Le Grand Maitre-Lokanga La Ndju Pene). It is ...

Dear Tingasiga; Franco. A single word that needs no elaboration. In the Africa of my youth and young adulthood, Franco was the name of only one man. Mention of the name ignited the stored sounds of ...

Zairian jazz guitarist and band leader FRANCO, 51, a leading force in African music who made more than 100 albums, died Thursday. Franco’s real name was Lokanga Ladjo Pene Luambo Makiadi. Franco and ...