Kekele was a band formed in 2000, composed of leading veteran African musicians, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
[3] The band's inspiring spirit was a dissatisfaction with the direction Congolese popular music had recently taken, and a desire to return to its roots.
The first iteration of Kekele was led by the older guitarist Papa Noël Nedule as music director, and included, in addition to the five core members named above, Jean-Papy Ramazani (vocals), Yves Ndjock of Cameroon (guitar), Sungu Debat (conga), and Viviane Arnoux of France (accordion).
For example, Mark Romano wrote, "Here is the full glory of Congolese rumba, played with style and an elegant sensuality that is without equal in the world of African music.
"[12] Christina Roden wrote, "The tunes uniformly reflect the languid yet well-marked Cuban clavé beat, chiming strings, and close-harmony vocals that characterized the older, more classic styles.
"[13] Rock critic Robert Christgau wrote "As long on lilt as it is devoid of drive, the abiding quietude is irrelevant to an up-and-at-'em mood.
But when nothing seems sweeter than home, it's a blessed comfort--the harmonies whispering, the drums twining, the groove massaging each overtaxed muscle until the blood can do its work there and flow on.
John Armstrong, for BBC Music, described the album's "[d]elicious melodies, inspired and original arrangements, faultless and non-indulgent playing, scalp-tingling voices.
Rick Sanders of fRoots magazine wrote "here, a couple of years down the line, comes number two, an album that shows even more warmth, wit and soul than its predecessor.
"[19] Papa Noël returned for the third album, on which Kekele was joined by saxophonist Manu Dibango, from Cameroon, and singers Mbilia Bel and Madilu System, both from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
[20] The title of the third album refers to an imaginary place, a combination of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), and Havana (Cuba).
In Kinavana, the band takes songs written or performed by the Cuban songwriter Guillermo Portabales, and plays them in a Congolese style, replacing their Spanish lyrics with Lingala ones.