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.
[38][39] Extra Musica was established on 27 August 1993, by seven members, namely Roga-Roga, Espé Bass, Kila Mbongo, Durell Loemba, Guy-Guy Fall, Ramatoulaye Ngolali and Quentin Moyascko.
Prior to Extra Musica's establishment, Roga-Roga, Espé Bass, Kila Mbongo, Durell Loemba, and Quentin Moyascko were part of another group called Cogiex Stars.
[43][42] During their recreational intervals, they frequently performed at funerals and other local festivals, accompanied by the band's initial singers, Guy-Guy Fall and Régis Touba, the atalaku Kila Mbongo, and drummer Ramatoulaye.
[48] The band gained recognition across both Congos through performances at events like Foire de Pointe-Noire and appearances on television programs like Variétés Samedi Soir, broadcast on Télé Zaire.
[42] In 1995, Extra Musica seized the attention of the Denide Production label, which released their debut album, Les Nouveaux Missiles, on 15 December 1995.
[51] Between 1994 and 1996, Extra Musica recruited several new members, including singers Abilissi, Doudou Copa, Malice Maria, Fédé Kanofa, and Herman Ngassaki, as well as rhythm guitarist and bassist Sonor Digital (who was present at the orchestra's inception), percussionists Émery Mbonda and Pozzi Gildas (the latter from Cogiex Stars), and keyboardist Christian Iyiangoua Kingstall.
[67][55] In 1998, administrative discord precipitated Extra Musica's first bifurcation, leading to the creation of two factions: one with Quentin Moyascko, Durell Loemba, Régis Touba, and Pinochet Thierry, and another with Roga-Roga, Espé Bass, Kila Mbongo, and the remaining members.
État-Major epitomized Extra Musica Zangul's distinctive sound, characterized by multi-thematic lyrics, catchy melodies, and distortion pedal guitar riffs.
The album's success solidified their status as one of the most prominent Congolese bands, selling over 95,000 copies in France and leading to an extensive tour across Botswana, Togo, Mali, and Europe.
Reviewing for Agence d'Information d'Afrique Centrale, Durly-Émilia Gankama described "Amnistie Shalaï" as "beautiful lament" and that it "made the Congo proud and danced all generations.
[84] Following their performance at Celtel City amusement park in Ouenzé on 21 September 2002, Extra Musica Zangul announced their forthcoming seventh studio album, Obligatoire, during a concert in Mayotte.
[85] In 2003, Extra Musica Zangul embarked on a tour in Burkina Faso, performing in cities including Ouagadougou, Koudougou, Ouahigouya, and Fada N'gourma.
[111][112][4] In 2010, Extra Musica performed a historic concert at the Palais de la Culture d'Abidjan with DJ Arafat as a featured guest.
[113][114][115] On 14 May 2011, they took part in the 7th edition of the Festival Socioculturel de la Tshangu (Festsha) in Kinshasa alongside JB Mpiana, Werrason, and the Brazzaville-based groups Ayesa.
[123][124] However, discord during the Extra Musica Unity concert at the Le Ruisseau Hotel in Pointe-Noire on 29 December led to audience dissatisfaction when Roga-Roga failed to perform with the group's former members as anticipated.
[126] Roga-Roga's solo studio album, Contentieux, initially planned as a maxi-single and set for release on 15 July 2013,[127] was postponed to enhance production quality.
[128][22] The album featured a guest appearance by Extra Musica and Jacques Koyo Chairman on the "Congolais Tika" track, which provided counsel to the Congolese populace, some of whom had adopted harmful habits.
[131][132] Oyo Ekoya Eya featured significant contributions from Extra Musica on most tracks, including the eponymous standout single and "Lettre Au Président" (with Jacques Koyo).
[132] In an interview posted on the Agence d'Information d'Afrique Centrale website, Roga-Roga expressed that "Oyo Ekoya Eya" is a slogan to awaken young Congolese and Africans in general, advocating that fear is an impediment to progress.
[132] He further briefed the press that the group produced Oyo Ekoya Eya to offer advice, with "Lettre Au Président" aimed at denouncing the adverse developments in Congolese society.
[132] In February 2016, Roga-Roga and Extra Musica promoted Oyo Ekoya Eya with a concert at Cercle Mess Des Officiers in Brazzaville and later performed in Pointe-Noire for Valentine's Day.
[133][134] In March 2016, Roga-Roga and Extra Musica showcased Oyo Ekoya Eya at the Radisson Blu M'Bamou Palace Hotel in Brazzaville during an upscale concert.
[136][137] In an interview with Agence d'Information d'Afrique Centrale, Roga-Roga articulated that 242 retraces the "journey of Extra Musica" and accentuates the group's musical evolution from inception to the present.
[149][150][151][152][153] The eponymous single rapidly became a hit in Kinshasa, where it was played in numerous bars and clubs and garnered prominence in Francophone and Anglophone African regions.