Cavacha

They claim that during a 1973 tour to Pointe-Noire from Brazzaville, the rhythm was inspired by the churning sound of a run-down railroad engine heard during an overnight train journey.

According to Belobi, he first heard the rhythm being played on a big drum with one stick while enjoying a beer and listening to an urban traditional musical ensemble in Kinshasa.

Cavacha has since become an indispensable element in creating a good sebene[1]—the instrumental and highly rhythmic section of Congolese rumba typically played towards the end of a song, emphasizing the lead and rhythm guitars for dancing.

The rhythm mainly utilizes the snare and bass drums, with variations manifesting through occasional fills or scattered crashes and hits.

Notable examples include: Beyond Congolese rumba, the cavacha rhythm has influenced and been incorporated into various other musical genres, such as Coupé-décalé (in songs like "Djessimidjeka" by DJ Arafat), Zouk (as heard in "Mwen Malad Aw" by Kassav') and various Latin American styles.