Prince Zeka

By LJ Zikimoto

Prince Zeka was in born in Bukavu, Congo (formerly Zaire). He started his music career in 1987 as a member of Bana Wenge, College Boboto Band in Kinshasa, Zaïre. In 1989 he formed an Afro Reggae Band in Paris known as Energy Experience.

In 1994, he formed Prince Zeka Systeme and later in Vienna Dunia Moja. He came up with a funky style of Music he called  Hip Hop Makoul. There have been variations of this name over the years but he seems to have settled on branding his music Makoul.

His style of music style of music, blends soul, rap and Soukous into a new  exciting flavor. His warm voice, which embraces tongue-twisting rap and emotional soul with equal versatility, gives his music its unique range of tonal colour. 

What is so special about this music is its huge range of multi-layered tones and rhythms: he melts together melodious soul with the rhythmic elements of hip hop, funk and Afro-beat, he sings and raps in French, Swahili, English or Lingala and the influence of Soukous - the music of his homeland Zaïre - can be clearly heard. This musical diversity is mirrored in the instruments of his band: as well as the classic basis of guitar, bass and keyboards, drums and percussion, African instruments also make an appearance.

According to prince Zeka, What is so special about this music is its huge range of multi
-layered tones and rhythms: he melts together melodious soul with the rhythmic elements of hip hop, funk and Afro-beat, he sings and raps in French, Swahili, English or Lingala and the 
influence of Soukous - the music of his homeland Zaïre - can be clearly heard. This musical diversity is mirrored in the instruments of his band: as well as the classic basis of guitar, bass and keyboards, drums and percussion, African instruments also make an appearance.

It is probably fitting since he has lived in Benin, Togo, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria. Not sure where he picked up Swahili though. May be back home in Congo. Most Congolese musicians speak a certain type of slang Swahili that makes us Kenyans laugh when we hear it.  I am a keen Kiswahili student but I still get a kick every time I hear them...."Nitakupenda Hata Zamani"  I know what they are trying to say, but it is still hilarious!!

His lyrics deal with the everyday life as such as current political matters and love. He sings of equality and respect and tries to envision a new and positive culture of freedom and solidarity among all people.

Prince Zeka´s music alters listening habits and perhaps thus also preconceived opinions about "African music" and cultural identity being things that are unalterable. He attempts to escape the rigid framework of traditional attributes: with a delightful lack of respect he disregards existing musical boundaries in that he creates out of his own lived reality as a modern nomad and allows himself to be inspired by a myriad of cultures. This attitude is reflected in both the name and members of his band DUNIA MOJA. DUNIA MOJA is Swahili and means "One World". The male and female musicians of his band come from all parts of the world and combine their varying talents and experiences into the music Hip Hop Makoul.

His lyrics deal with the everyday life as such as current political matters and love. He sings of equality and respect and tries to envision a new and positive culture of freedom and solidarity among all people. Prince Zeka´s music alters listening habits and perhaps thus also preconcieved opinions about "African music" and cultural identity being things that are unalterable. He attempts to escape the rigid framework of traditional attributes: with a delightful lack of respect he disregards existing musical boundaries in that he creates out of his own lived reality as a modern nomad and allows himself to be inspired by a myriad of cultures. This attitude is reflected in both the name and members of his band DUNIA MOJA. DUNIA MOJA is Swahili and means "One World". The male and female musicians of his band come from all parts of the world and combine their varying talents and experiences into the music Hip Hop Makoul.