Loningisa
Loningisa was a studio and record label based in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as Zaire). Made famous by the emergence of the African rumba band OK Jazz, whose music became popular, and a big influence on African and Congolese popular music. OK Jazz included Francois Luambo Makiadi who emerged as Zaire's first true pop-music star, particularly his guitar playing abilities.
Also recorded as Les Éditions Loningisa
Loningisa
- Name
- Loningisa
- Founded
- 1952
- Headquarters
- Kinshasa
- Dissolved
- 1962
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Documentary summary
Loningisa was a studio and record label based in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as Zaire). Made famous by the emergence of the African rumba band OK Jazz, whose music became popular, and a big influence on African and Congolese popular music. OK Jazz included Francois Luambo Makiadi who emerged as Zaire's first true pop-music star, particularly his guitar playing abilities.
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wikidata · Q6674648 · wikipedia · Loningisa
In this article
Overview
Overview
Franco and all other members of OK Jazz were tutored and trained at the Loningisa studios. The group formed via collective participation at Loningisa's studios as players in sessions and the house band titled 'Bana Loningisa' (Loningisa Boys). Founded by Congolese Greek brothers Athanase and Basile Papadimitriou in 1950. In 1974, Mobutu ordered the company be confiscated and turned over to a native Congolese owner as part of his Zairianisation program. Zairianisation was not favorable for the company, and the Mobutu regime turned the company back over to its Greek owners in 1976.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Loningisa • Founded — 1950 • Founder — Athanase Papadimitriou Basile Papadimitriou • Country — Democratic Republic of the Congo
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
Explore 1952–1962
The full dated record · 3 entries
1952
Loningisa established.
1952
Loningisa is recorded from 1952.
1962
Loningisa ceased.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zaire
Country
Loningisa is associated with Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zaire.
Country
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q6674648: Loningisa
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Loningisa”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Pinther, Kerstin. Afropolis: City Media Art. Jacana Media. 230–31. 2012. 1431403253.
- 2.Gary Stewart, Rumba on the River, Verso, 2003, , ch. 2
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Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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