Extra Musica

Extra Musica is a Congolese rumba band formed in Ouenzé, Brazzaville, in August 1993. The band was established by Roga-Roga, Espé Bass, Kila Mbongo, Durell Loemba, Guy-Guy Fall, Ramatoulaye Ngolali, and Quentin Moyascko, who initially met at the Sainte Thérèse church in Ouenzé, being neighbors and classmates. Prior to forming Extra Musica, several members had been associated with the Cogiex Stars ensemble but seceded subsequent to facing punitive repercussions for attempting to infuse new ideas.^[3][4][5][6]

In 1995, Extra Musica were spotted by Denide Production, which released their debut studio album, Les Nouveaux Missiles. The album was a commercial success, earning a gold record with sales exceeding 50,000 copies by April 1996 and introducing their first hit, "Freddy Nelson."^{[7][8][9][10]} Extra Musica's second studio album, Confirmation, debuted in December 1996, achieved considerable success in Africa.^[11][9][12] In 1997, the band released their third studio album, Ouragan.^[13] However, internecine discord precipitated a schism in 1998, prompting Quentin Moyascko and several affiliates to establish Extra Musica International, whereas Roga-Roga and others perpetuated as Extra Musica Zangul.^[14] Extra Musica, now rebranded as Extra Musica Zangul, released Etat-Major in December 1998, which emerged as their most triumphant record, which solidified their international stardom with sales surpassing 100,000 copies in France.^[15][16] Subsequent albums included Shalaï (1999), Trop c'est trop (2001), and Obligatoire (2004).^[17][18] In 2006 and 2011, they issued the double albums La Main Noire and Sorcellerie (Kindoki), the latter featuring a collaboration with French rapper Passi.^{[19][20][17][21]} Roga Roga's solo studio album, Contentieux, debuted in January 2015, prominently featuring collaboration with Extra Musica Zangul,^[22][23] followed by five-track maxi-single Oyo Ekoya Eya on 31 December 2015.^[24][25] On 16 March 2018, Extra Musica Zangul released their tenth album, 242.^[26][27][28] In August 2021, the EP Bokoko was issued,^[29] with the eponymous single achieving global acclaim.^{[30][31][32][33][34]} Their recent release, the six-track EP Nzoungou, debuted on August 20, 2023.^[35]

Throughout their career, Extra Musica Zangul has accrued numerous accolades, including the African Revelation of the Year at Ngwomo Africa Awards in Kinshasa in 1996 and the Best African Group at Africar Music Awards in Libreville in 1997. They continued to amass recognition, winning the Best African and Best Afro-Caribbean Group at Africar Music Awards in 1998.^[11][12] They clinched the Best Group of Africa at the 2000 Kora Awards.^[36] In 2003, Extra Musica Zangul won the Kundé d'Or for Best Artist in Central Africa^[37] and received Kora Awards' nominations for the Best Group of Africa in 2001^[38] and 2008.^[39][40] In October 2011, Extra Musica Zangul were honored as the Best African Group of the Decade 2001–2011 at Kundé d'Or.^[41][42]