Contemporary Congolese musician Baloji is a blast from the past.
“Independence Cha Cha” is an optimistic African independence song from the Belgian Congo that struck a chord in Francophone African countries that were just becoming independent in the early 1960s. The original version is by Le Grand Kallé, known as the “Father of Congolese Music,” who first performed it during talks with the Belgians that set the date for Congo‘s independence. In this video Congolese hip hop artist Baloji updates the song, reminding us that a whole lot has happened in Central Africa since.
